Fans line the streets and cheer on the 605 All-Star Band as they prepare to march in the Rose Parade by practicing through the streets of Bellflower and Lakewood, CA, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
The 605 All-Star Band prepares to march in the Rose Parade by practicing through the streets of Bellflower and Lakewood, CA, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
The 605 All-Star Band prepares to march in the Rose Parade by practicing through the streets of Bellflower and Lakewood, CA, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
The 605 All-Star Band prepares to march in the Rose Parade by practicing through the streets of Bellflower and Lakewood, CA, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
The 605 All-Star Band prepares to march in the Rose Parade by practicing through the streets of Bellflower and Lakewood, CA, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
The 605 All-Star Band prepares to march in the Rose Parade by practicing through the streets of Bellflower and Lakewood, CA, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
The 605 All-Star Band prepares to march in the Rose Parade by practicing through the streets of Bellflower and Lakewood, CA, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
The 605 All-Star Band prepares to march in the Rose Parade by practicing through the streets of Bellflower and Lakewood, CA, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
The 605 All-Star Band prepares to march in the Rose Parade by practicing through the streets of Bellflower and Lakewood, CA, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
The 605 All-Star Band prepares to march in the Rose Parade by practicing through the streets of Bellflower and Lakewood, CA, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
The 605 All-Star Band prepares to march in the Rose Parade by practicing through the streets of Bellflower and Lakewood, CA, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
The 605 All-Star Band prepares to march in the Rose Parade by practicing through the streets of Bellflower and Lakewood, CA, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
The 605 All-Star Band prepares to march in the Rose Parade by practicing through the streets of Bellflower and Lakewood, CA, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
The 605 All-Star Band prepares to march in the Rose Parade by practicing through the streets of Bellflower and Lakewood, CA, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
The 605 All-Star Band prepares to march in the Rose Parade by practicing through the streets of Bellflower and Lakewood, CA, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
The 605 All-Star Band prepares to march in the Rose Parade by practicing through the streets of Bellflower and Lakewood, CA, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
The 605 All-Star Band prepares to march in the Rose Parade by practicing through the streets of Bellflower and Lakewood, CA, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
The 605 All-Star Band and Santa prepare to march in the Rose Parade by practicing through the streets of Bellflower and Lakewood, CA, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Show Caption1 of 18Fans line the streets and cheer on the 605 All-Star Band as they prepare to march in the Rose Parade by practicing through the streets of Bellflower and Lakewood, CA, on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
ExpandHundreds of people cheered as the 605 All-Star Band marched and performed on Sunday, Dec. 1, in its first do-it-yourself parade in preparation for the 2025 Rose Parade.
More than 500 students from the Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, John Glenn, Gahr, La Mirada, Mayfair and Norwalk high school bands – all based along the 605 Freeway – have come together as the All-Star Band. They represent three school districts – ABC, Bellflower, and Norwalk-La Mirada Unified.
As they prepare to play and march in the 136th annual Rose Parade on Jan. 1, the nearly four-mile practice parade route began at Ron Yary Stadium in Bellflower, and finished at Mayfair Park in Lakewood.
Students said they were excited to be performing what they have been practicing tirelessly for.
“It’s surreal being here,” said William Bollas, a junior from Artesia High School.
“I’m very excited,” he said with a saxophone in hand and wearing a wide hat to protect him from the sun on the parade route. “I’ve been to the Rose Parade before and it was a great experience and now I’m in it. I couldn’t believe it when we got accepted I was jumping in excitement, everyone was. We’re marching down the Rose Parade on national television, it’s a major event.”
Others said they were excited for their families to be supporting them on Sunday along the parade route, and many planning to attend the Rose Parade to cheer the band on.
“My entire family is coming to watch me and they’re coming on Jan. 1,” said Nia Marin, a sophomore from Bellflower High School in color guard. “They’re going to celebrate New Years early to come and watch me.”
Marin said that her grandfather had dreamed about attending the Rose Parade, and was very excited that his granddaughter would have the opportunity to perform at the parade.
“I’m just very excited to be here and happy to be doing this for my family,” Marin said, “because I know they’re very excited, too.”
Performing alongside students from several schools has been fun, Marin added, and that it has been fascinating to see everyone be able to work together.
After the pandemic downsized the music programs of many individual high schools, the idea to combine the bands into the 605 All-Star Band was the concept of Mayfair High’s longtime band director, Tom Philips, before he retires in 2025.
Each school’s band has rehearsed separately for musical practice and conditioning, with all schools coming together for the first practice parade.
“We’re test-driving the band, that’s what we’re doing today,” Philips said.
“I’m just really proud of the fact that everyone could come together and it’s all about community,” Philips said. “I’m thankful for the district and the two cities that worked together, donors, and the kids wanting to be part of something so special.”
The 605 All-Star Band will be one of the largest bands, if not the largest, to ever march in the Rose Parade.
Sundays parade started with a performance by Lakewood High School’s band, followed by the Lakewood City Council, Bellflower Unified School District Board of Education, and Bellflower City Council.
“I’m really proud of all these high school students,” said Lisa Azevedo, interim superintendent for Bellflower Unified School District, who waved in the parade from a firetruck along with fellow board members.
“I think it’s a very special opportunity for them because it’s not just students in Bellflower Unified, it’s also ABC and Norwalk-La Mirada Unified,” she said. “It’s a whole community effort and the cities have come together to support these high school students in this particular parade. It’s a really unique community experience for them.”
There were also special guests riding in front of the 605 All-Star Band during the parade – Pasadena Tournament of Roses President Ed Morales and his wife, Lisa.
“I just feel blessed to be here and to be part of this great idea that the band director Tom Philips came up with,” Morales said in an interview before the parade. “To put together eight local area high school bands along the 605 Freeway. I think it’s really exciting and I can’t wait to hear them.”
The 605 All-Star Band will have their next performance at the annual South Gate Christmas Parade on Sunday, Dec. 8, at noon. This year the parade will be along Southern Avenue between California Avenue and Pinehurst Avenue.