Mia Torres

LHS Band Members prepare to march in the Rose Bowl Parade

 Members of the Blue Devils Marching Band headed to Pasadena, California for the Rose Parade and Disneyland Parade this week. 

Leominster High School Blue Devils Marching Band director Robert Bergeron speaks about the Rose Parade taking place in Pasadena, California.

Twenty-five students from Leominster High School will be contributing as a part of the New England Honor Band, a band made up from band members from all 6 New England states. 

“We’re contributing the most amount of kids out of all other schools in Massachusetts,” said Bergeron.

The Rose Parade has been taking place every year since 1890 inspiring the New England Honor Band to choose their uniforms attempting to “capture the essence of classic New England.”

Bergeron added, “New England is where a lot of this country was founded.” He added so many historical events, such as the American Revolution and the shot heard around the world were here. 

“They’ll be wearing mostly white uniforms with a red vest, a blue sash and then we have a tri-horn which is typical of most colonial era marching units.,” Bergeron said. 

What they’ll be playing will be very on theme with New England  with classic American songs like Chester and Yankee Doodle, along with  classic Boston hits like Shipping off to Boston and Sweet Caroline.

“It’s really about trying to bring a little bit of New England flavor over to California,” he added. 

The group left New England on December 27, and will return on January 2.

Some of the LHS Band Students were asked about their feelings on being chosen for the Rose Parade. 

“I’m nervous but I’m really excited because like Bergeron said, we don’t get the opportunity to do this a lot,” said LHS Junior Mia Torres. “I don’t think I’m ever going to be able to do another march. This is big,” Mia added. 

LHS Sophomore, Kai Linstruth added, “I do view this as an opportunity because I’m in musical theater, so I love acting and going to Los Angeles and seeing where all my favorite movies are, where fingers crossed, I’ll be one day.” 

“I think it’s good to kind of represent some of the not as well-known cities and towns in New England,” added Junior Erin Sargent.

The Rose Parade is one of the longest parades in the United States having a length of 5.2 miles of marching. 

The complete list of band members from LHS is: