Wave Staff Report
LOS ANGELES — In a loud and lively ceremony at the Jan. 28 county Board of Supervisors meeting, County Supervisor Janice Hahn honored the more than 500 students and eight band directors of the 605 All Star Band which made history performing in this year’s Rose Parade.
The band is comprised of students representing eight high schools in Southeast Los Angeles County — Mayfair, Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Gahr, John Glenn High, La Mirada and Norwalk — across three school districts and spanning seven cities along the San Gabriel River (605) Freeway.
The band was the brainchild of Mayfair High School’s band director, Tom Philips, who came up with the idea of bringing high schools from the area together to form one “super band” with the goal of making it to the Rose Parade.
This year, they succeeded. The 605 All Star Band became the first composite band to perform in the Rose Parade, the largest band to perform this year, and ranks among the largest bands in the parade’s history.
“These young people and their band directors poured their hearts into this performance and, not only did they make it to the Rose Parade, they made history there,” Hahn said. “They worked hard, they spent their weekends rehearsing and even did a four-mile practice parade from Bellflower to Lakewood. Every one of them should be proud and they deserve the recognition and celebration of the County of Los Angeles.”
Most of the 500 band members packed the board room at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration for the meeting. Each student was presented a personalized certificate honoring their participation in the Rose Parade as part of the 605 All Star Band signed by the entire Board of Supervisors.
On the dais, alongside ABC Unified Superintendent Gina Zietlow and board member Ernie Nishii, Hahn presented official Los Angeles County scrolls for each band to the eight band directors, Tom Philips of Mayfair High School, Juan Perez of Artesia High School, Omar Vidana of Bellflower High School, Bobby Westphal of Cerritos High School, Darren Loney of Gahr High School, Frank Hinojos of John Glenn High School, Robert Stearns of La Mirada High School, and Ramiro Castaneda of Norwalk High School.
“We appreciate Supervisor Hahn taking the time to honor us,” Phillips said. “She has partnered with us and helped in obtaining the things we needed so we could have our practice parade in Norwalk.
“Supervisor Hahn’s office helped make that happen, and now you have 528 students that have endured grueling hours putting something together out of nothing — creating something and seeing a dream come true.”
During the ceremony, students cheered loudly for their band directors and presented Hahn with a 605 All Star Band T-shirt, a framed photo of their performance, a pin, and a large banner thanking her for her support.
