About
History of All City Band
- Since 1973, the Los Angeles Unified School District All District High School Honor Marching Band has been involved with the Tournament of Roses Parade and other special high profile events. Representing the students, teachers, administrators and employees of the second largest school district in the nation, the band is one of four bands allowed to perform in the Tournament of Roses Parade on an annual basis. Each year the program also gives students the opportunity to perform at the Tournament of Roses Band Fest and Disneyland͡ Magic Music Days.
Why was the Band created?
- John Deichman, the District director of Performing Arts in 1973, along with teachers Don Dustin and Frank Harris, created the concept of the All District Band. There were a couple of reasons for this bandࣲeation. First, the Tournament of Roses Parade, considered to be one of the most prestigious parades in the world, had representation from the LAUSD every other year only if a band was good enough to pass the audition process. Second, bands are not allowed to march in this prestigious parade unless they have a minimum of 100 student musicians. Before the LAUSD All District Honor Band was created, only a few LAUSD high schools such as Granada Hills, Locke and Taft had the capacity to field the minimum number. When the idea of an All District Band that would allow brass and percussion musicians from all of the high schools to participate in the Tournament of Roses Parade, Superintendent William Johnston, special assistant William Rivera, and Director of Student Auxiliary Services Gordon Trigg, immediately and strongly supported this idea.
Program Diversity and Outreach
- The LAUSD is the second largest school district in the nation, located in the second most populated city in the country. It is a melting pot of ethnic, social, religious and economic backgrounds. Each year, from East Los Angeles to South Central, from the Harbor Area to the Valley, students come together, despite these difference, to positively represent themselves, their communities, schools and the district through hard work and dedication.
- All City, as it has come to be known, strives to have representation from all of its 60 plus high schools. Beyond the Bell Music and Entertainment Education actively work with high school music teachers to prepare students for the All City season by providing workshops and master classes prior to auditions and rehearsals. All City also provides all participating students with transportation from one of over 40 stops throughout the district to rehearsals/performances and back. This ensures more participation and the safety of our students. These bus rides have come to become key socializing venues for students to interact with each other, find support and create lifelong friendships.
Enrichment
- Participants work directly with highly qualified music teachers and staff during the All City season. With most students unable to afford private lessons, we provide students with more specialized instruction on their instrument or auxiliary style. By placing students into groups based on their discipline and proficiency level, teachers are able to provide a more specialized curriculum which creates stronger, more confident individuals.
- Amidst the music and the marching, students will develop and implement important life skills such as teamwork, character development, responsibility, dedication, persistence and collaboration. All City not only works towards developing musicians and auxiliary members, we also strive to develop more well-rounded individuals.
The All City Sound
- o All City Band uses an all Brasswind and Percussion model to create its unique sound and to produce maximum projection. Since the group੮ception, the idea of an all brass and percussion ensemble was created specifically for the Tournament of Roses Parade in order to entertain its large audience on Colorado Boulevard and all over the world via television and other media outlets. Brass players are recommended by their home school teachers, unlike percussionist, drum majors and auxiliary members who must audition for membership.
Where has the Band Performed?
- Pasadena's Tournament of Roses Parade.
- Tournament of Roses Bandfest
- Disneyland's Magic Music Days
- Super Bowls XI, XIV & XVII
- Coca Cola Centennial Celebration, Atlanta, Georgia.
- Governor's Inauguration in Sacramento, CA.
- Hollywood Christmas Lane Parade in Hollywood, CA
- Hands Across America Campaign
- Los Angeles Millennium Celebration
- Raiders' Football Games
- Rams' Football Games
- XXIV Olympiad Salute
- XXVII Olympiad Torch Run
- World Series
- NAMM Opening Ceremony
- Ringo Star Walk of Fame Induction
- Playboy Jazz Festival
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Kingdom Day Parade
