CHS band marches into Tournament of Roses Parade history

Editor’s note: Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman employee Christy Pinkerton’s son, Jared, is one of the students who represented Alaska at the 2014 Tournament of Roses Parade. Beginning when the band arrived in California Dec. 27, Pinkerton has shared daily updates and photos on the Frontiersman’s Facebook page so the community can share in this historic moment. Here are highlights from the band’s first five days, including links to its Bandfest and parade performances.

Tournament of Roses Parade Day 1:

Greetings from Los Angeles, Calif.! The CHS marching band arrived safely late last night. Today was a fun day. We started off at Seal Beach in La Jolla, where we were greeted by seals on the beach — imagine that! We found ourselves on the other side of the beach where most of us just waded in the water, but a certain few ended up fully submerged. It was great to feel the sand on our feet instead of snow. From there we headed to the San Diego Zoo. They had it all and we saw it all — well, almost all. Lions, tigers, giraffes, monkeys, reptiles, birds, rhinoceroses and … well, you get the picture. Our last stop was dinner at the Hard Rock Café, where the kids seemed to be right at home with all the music memorabilia. The service was great and the food delicious. Tomorrow promises more fun, but it’s also a practice day.

Tournament of Roses Parade Day 2:

We began our day at the Santa Monica Pier, where we enjoyed the shops and some rides, but the big star was the beach. Mind you, we know it is December, but leave it to the kids from Alaska to be swimming in the ocean. Many of them laid out in the warm sun and several were caught building sand castles.

For lunch, we headed to the farmers market where you could get absolutely any kind of cuisine you could imagine, although I saw many teenagers with the old standby pizza.

Enough playing, now it was time to work. Our motor coaches took us to Irvine High School, where the band practiced outside for four hours! This was the first time several of the members were able to practice with their rented instruments. We rented all the drums and all of the large instruments such as tubas and sousaphones.

Tomorrow is Bandfest and float viewing ... stay tuned.

Tournament of Roses Parade Day 3:

It was a very early morning for the band (members) as they had to be on the bus in full uniform with instruments ready to go at 7 a.m. Today was Bandfest! All the bands participating in the Rose Parade performed their field routine and did a pass & review before the president of the Tournament of Roses, royal court queen and princesses and other dignitaries. The emcee did a fabulous job getting the crowd excited about the first band from Alaska. The band’s performance was excellent and the crowd could tell who all their parents were. We represented loud and proud. During their pass & review our kids received a standing ovation! Let’s just say there were more than a few happy tears shed.

Next stop was to the Rose Bowl football stadium to get our official group photograph and to view the floats as they were putting the finishing touches on them. Quite fascinating is all I can say. One float, “A Bed of Roses,” told us they had over 12,500 roses on their float.

Our next stop was supposed to be rehearsal, but the bus I was in broke down on the freeway — and I mean very busy, eight-lane freeway. Fortunately, we are traveling in two motor coaches so the kids all doubled up and some sat on the floor while we transferred to their bus.

One bus continued on to rehearsal while we waited at McDonald’s for about 1 1/2 hours for a new bus.

The kids and directors are working hard. They are tired, sore and hot, but they are pushing through and getting the job done. I am so incredibly proud of all of them!

Tomorrow … Disneyland performance!

Tournament of Roses Parade Day 4:

This will be short and sweet as tomorrow is the big day and parents must be on the bus at 4:15 a.m. Kids don’t have to be there until 6:40 a.m.

A follow up from yesterday; director Jamin Burton was told at a meeting this morning that for the first time in the history of Bandfest a band received a full standing ovation — that band was CHS! I just thought it was a kind gesture. I had no idea it was much more meaningful. Way to go KNIGHTS!

Today the band marched in the Disneyland Parade! It was awesome. They also spent the afternoon in the recording studio where they recorded two songs from “Tangled” and one from “Toy Story 3,” then got to watch the clips with their recorded music. What a great experience.

Don’t forget to watch the Tournament of Roses Parade. It starts at 7 a.m., Alaska time. We are No. 86 out of 91 entries, so press the record button and watch at your leisure.

Tournament of Roses Parade Day 5:

Wow, just wow, what an incredible day. So much has happened today it will take me quite a bit to put it all into words. I have been up since 3:45 a.m. and it is now 10 p.m. I will get my thoughts together and get information on the parade ready for tomorrow night. In the meantime, please enjoy the video from Bandfest. This is their entire field performance including Pass & Review.

See the Bandfest performance online

at bit.ly/1d3mB7F.

See the Rose Parade performance online at bit.ly/19P4zTG.