Braving low temperatures, members of Taipei First Girls’ High School’s (TFGHS) Marching Band, Honor Guard and Color Guard on Monday dazzled the tens of thousands of people lined up to watch the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California.
The New Year’s celebration, held in Pasadena since 1890, was held under sunny skies this year, but in 6°C weather that did not appear to affect the performers on their 8.85km route.
Placed 58th in the parade’s lineup, the school was one of six international groups that took part in this year’s Rose Parade and one of 76 elements (39 floats, 21 marching bands and 16 equestrian teams) in the procession.
Photo courtesy of the Taipei First Girls’ High School Marching Band Parents’ Support Group
The 125 TFGHS girls were praised by anchors from KTLA, which broadcast the event, for how organized their formation was as they rounded a corner to march toward the event’s main seating area.
“Look at them playing to the crowd here. How beautiful that is,” one of the anchors said of the marching band.
As the TFGHS girls were applauded by the crowd, a woman was heard shouting: “Go, Taiwan.”
Photo: AP
One of the honor guard members dropped her parade rifle, but quickly recovered, maintaining her composure, which won a compliment from one of the anchors, who called her a “professional.”
“I hope they’re very proud of themselves, what it took to get here, what it takes to march this distance,” the anchor said.
Unlike at international sporting events overseen by the International Olympic Committee, the event’s host referred to Taiwan by its official name, the Republic of China, and Taiwan.
Photo: CNA
In the bleachers, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles Director-General Louis Huang (黃敏境) and several alumnae of the school waved Taiwan’s national flag as they cheered for TFGHS.
Honor guard Chiu Jo-an (邱若安) said that at the end of every segment she turned to wave at the crowd, which responded enthusiastically each time, leaving her feeling touched.
She said the most memorable moment for her was when a member of the audience shouted in Mandarin: “Go Taipei First Girls’ High School.”
This is the third time that TGFHS has been invited to the Rose Parade after performing in 1996 and 2005.
Color guard Chen En-hsuan (陳恩瑄) said the audience seemed more passionate than audiences in Taiwan.
People seated on both sides of the road kept screaming, cheering and waving, which was something she was not used to at home, she said.
“Hearing people shouting ‘Taiwan’ and waving the [national] flag, I could truly feel that this event brought Taiwan to the world,” marching band member Ni Chin-wei (倪沁葳) said.
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