Let It Snow Parade

To start off the winter traditions in San Dimas, the city hosted the Let It Snow Parade featuring a volunteer group of musicians called Tuba Christmas Ensemble. They marched down Bonita blvd. on December 4th while playing “Jingle Bells”. This group is part of San Dimas High School’s Royal Corps, and they were excited to perform for their community. Being in the Christmas spirit and bringing joy to those around them is what the Tuba Christmas Ensemble aspires to do.

This group started practicing after their marching season and now they’re ready to spread the Christmas cheer. This group consists of baritone and tubas, from freshmen to seniors. The organizer of this group, senior Abram Schwach is a member of the Royal Corps and had decided to bring this group together to participate in the holiday spirit. He had been involved in this group since freshman year and after being quarantined over the 2020 holidays, Shwach has volunteered to continue this tradition. 

Most of the members that volunteered to be in the Tuba Christmas Ensemble are newcomers to the instruments. They chose to commit themselves to playing a new instrument in order to better themselves as a musician. Not only to learn, but music is fun for them to listen to, and share with others. Part of the benefits to these musicians joining is that they “get to be a part of a deep, rich sound that consists of only tubas and baritones” said Abram Schwach. These powerful brass instruments brought joy to those around to listen at the Christmas parade.

There were a lot of people at the winter parade to support those involved in the parade as well as contribute to the holiday spirit. This provided a big audience for the Tuba Christmas Ensemble to showcase their music. While they were marching, they “see the crowd’s energy leap up as they heard the tubas and baritones start to play”, said Shwach. This gives these band members the confidence and joy to play for their community. Having all these people cheer them on helps the Tuba Christmas Ensemble feel like the work they put in is worth it. The energy the crowd provides flows into them and makes the band play better.

Although playing music and sharing it with others is fun there are challenges when it comes to doing something new. From freshman Isaac Junus’s, it’s his first time playing the tuba and he has a big role within Tuba Christmas Ensemble. It’s his first year in this group and “playing tuba has different notes than the instrument I’m used to so it was an adjustment for me” said Junus. This struggle still motivated him to practice and gave him a thrive to do better. 

Playing “Jingle Bells” at the Let It Snow Parade was just their teaser for their coming up winter concert on the 16th and 17th of December at the Bonita Performing Center Of the Arts. They will be playing “Jingle Bells”, “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”, “First Noelle”, “O Christmas Tree”, and more.