Bands from around the country and around the world apply for the chance to perform in the world-famous Rose Parade.
This year, one of the bands who will march down Colorado Boulevard is the Rancho Verde Crimson Regiment. They come to Pasadena from Moreno Valley in the Inland Empire.
They got the good news last year.
These @RanchoVerdeBand members just found out they are going to be participating in the 2020 Rose Parade!!!! pic.twitter.com/ImLK6GLjXo
— Val Verde USD (@ValVerdeUSD) October 15, 2018
Since then, the band has been busy, both preparing for their performance, and raising funds through activities like a 10k run.
What a momentous historic day for the RVCR yesterday. pic.twitter.com/tHBSl0ffVn
— RanchoVerdeBand (@RanchoVerdeBand) December 30, 2019
We caught up with the band as they played Bandfest earlier this week. Here's what they said:
Honglac Hathuc, band director:
Evelyn Berrum, color guard member and Rancho Verde High 12th grader:
I found out that I was going to the Rose Parade last year, so on New Year's, I woke up early in the morning to watch the parade, and I remember telling my parents, "That's going to be me next year." It's an honor to be one of the members on the team this year with the rest of my team and friends ...
It's always going to be one of those moments that I could look back to and smile at – especially knowing all the practice paid off in the end. Instead of going on my school breaks, I went to practice to practice for the Rose Parade, and I don't regret it at all.
To listen to the story as it aired on the radio, click the blue play button above.