Postcards from Pasadena

'There's nothing bigger than this': Oswego band members will always remember Rose parade

OSWEGO — With the Tournament of Roses Parade already a month in the rearview mirror, the members of the Oswego and Oswego East high school bands who marched in the world famous parade are still basking in the once-in-a-lifetime experience.

How memorable of an experience was it?

Danielle Wackerlin, a senior clarinet player, said, "There's nothing that can even compare."

"Maybe my wedding," responded Jessica Orr, a junior flute player.

"Maybe." Danielle replied.

In the parade, band students remember two major points: when the band passed in front a wildly cheering crowd of Oswego supporters and the breath-taking view of the mountains.

When the band marched by the Oswego cheering section, the response was so loud some of the band members said they couldn't even hear their own music.

"It was so loud, you couldn't hear yourself play," Danielle said. "I had tears in my eyes."

But that burst of cheer, occurring less than a mile into the 5-1/2 mile parade, helped energize the band throughout.

"The entire parade I really expected to get tired," said Chad O'Brien, a freshman trombone player. "But not until the very end, then I realized I was very tired."

The cheering, of course, didn't end with Oswego's fans. With thousands of people along every street, on every rooftop and even hanging out of windows, there was a constant roar of approval during the parade.

"They cheered for you even though they didn't even know who you were," said Jackie Evers, a senior alto saxophone player.

Senior alto sax player Jennifer Urbaniak was one of a number of band members who caught a touch of illness while in Pasadena, Calif. But every last member of the 251 person band marched the entire parade.

"In all of my high school career, there's nothing bigger than this that could happen," Jennifer said.

Outside of the parade, band members also valued the time they spent with other bands. They were in the same hotel as a band from Georgia and held a dance with them after the parade. Oswego band members also exchanged a band banner, some money and the occasional phone number with members of a band from Costa Rica.

Josh Huppert, a senior and the color guard captain, and Heather Johns, a junior and member of the color guard, thanked their parents, all of the band members' parents and the community for their support. Marching in the parade helped move music and art into peoples' minds in a community that has seen great athletic success from its high schools.

"We showed how music and art can change people's lives," Josh said.

And during half-time of Oswego football games, "people listened this year," Heather said.

"Everyone stayed," said Josh, "instead of going to buy nachos."