This marks Long Beach Junior Concert Band’s 54th consecutive year in the Hollywood Christmas Parade. The band from Long Beach, California is under the direction of Jim Mitchell. Over the 59 years of the band’s existence, it has captured over 1,500 Sweepstakes and First place awards. The band has appeared in numerous television commercials and toured Hawaii and Japan.

The Santa Ana Winds Youth Band is composed of musicians from ages 14 to 21 from all over Orange County, California. The Winds were given the title of “The Official Music Ambassadors for Orange County,”  Directors Anna Sintora and Abel Acosta has the Youth Band performing at numerous parades all over Southern California each year. The Santa Ana Winds Youth Band is an educational arts program dedicated to providing the youth of our community with the means to develop life skills, musical skills and much more.

Under the direction of Cindy Finley, the Banning High School Mighty Marching Pilots from Wilmington, California has appeared in countless parades and performances throughout the Southland. The band and auxiliary team are one of the top show groups in the western United States and have won hundreds of trophies. The group has also appeared in music videos, Made for TV movies and television sitcoms. In addition, the group performed at the 2000 Democratic National Convention when it was held in Los Angeles.

Thomas Philips is the current director of the Mayfair High School Monsoon Marching Corps, a job he has held since 2000. The band from Lakewood, California has 150 members with 36 in the color guard. When Mr. Philips took over, the band only had 55 members. In 2007 and again in 2009, the Monsoon Marching Corps was crowned the California State Band Champion. The group also received championship honors in Hawaii and Nevada in 2010 and earlier this year.

The Gadsden Elementary School District #32 Marching Band is from San Luis, Arizona which is located on the border of San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico.  The marching band is composed of approximately 160 students from grades 4-8, including some students who have returned from high school to march with the band.  What distinguishes this band from the others is that it includes field type showmanship when performing in parades.  The band is under the direction of Martin Peraltaa Sr. and his son Martin Peralta Jr.

From Walnut, California comes the Walnut High School Blue Thunder Marching Band. In honor of Gene Autry’s iconic classic “Here Comes Santa Claus,” the band is performing a new arrangement of the classic song written by its directors Dr. Buddy Clements and Corey Wicks. Walnut High School boasts a wonderful music program, having been selected by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences as a Grammy Signature School semi-finalist numerous times.

The Yorba Linda High School Marching Band hails from one of the newest high schools in Orange County. Bincins Garcia directs the Mustangs who come from Yorba Linda, California. This is the band’s second consecutive year performing in the Hollywood Christmas Parade, although the group’s director has marched in the parade with the Santa Ana Winds, Esperanza High School, Sierra Vista High School and now Yorba Linda High School.