Fallbrook High student chosen to perform in Rose Bowl Parade

Chloe Shaver

Writing Intern

Alexis Rivera of Fallbrook High School has been selected to perform with the Pasadena Community College Honor Band as part of their Color Guard Auxiliary Unit. This group performs at the Rose Bowl Parade and was selected to perform with 15 others out of a group of 100 who entered.

Rivera has been a member of the Fallbrook High Marching Warriors Color Guard for four years, and has been captain of the team for three. She says that this, along with her other experience as the Cadet Captain in the FHS JROTC program, has helped her immensely in getting this distinguished position. However, she said her main struggle getting into this prestigious program was her own mental blocks. "What leads me to succeed is myself – I push myself to extremes, and am always striving to improve."

The Honor Band is composed of high schoolers in California as well as students who are enrolled in Pasadena City College. With rehearsals once a week, often all day, students must be able to attend each one – Rivera makes one of the longest drives at 90 minutes each way.

The audition process lasted from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., with each minute filled with a rigorous audition process. Rivera learned the audition routine in one day. "I wasn't prepared for how long the day would be," Rivera admitted. She said she practiced everything she could, as all students performing would have the same or equal experience as her. The judges would be looking at very specific, nit-picky levels of skill to choose a select 16.

The rehearsals began Nov. 7, and go weekly until the week before and during Christmas. The only days off during those weeks are Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, with most of the rehearsals lasting the entire day.

Although there is no cost for participating in the Honor Band, Rivera must pay her own way for tickets to perform, uniforms, and other equipment.

The Fallbrook Marching Warriors have been very supportive of Rivera's accomplishments. Rivera specifically mentioned the band director, Derek Lee, for encouraging her to audition and ensuring there would be no issues in their own practices for Rivera to perform in the Rose Bowl.

Rivera would like to thank Lee, Taylor Busse, and Laura Baker, her coaches and mentors throughout her years in Color Guard. "They are the reason I've gotten better, and my supporters throughout this process." Additionally, she would like to thank her Color Guard team, of which she has been captain of for three years. "They're right next to me and supporting me the entire way – I wouldn't be here without them."