We all know and love color guard performances but where did color guard come from? Traditional color guard originated during the Civil War (1860s). A band would accompany soldiers to keep their spirits up. While alongside the band a soldier with a colored flag walked. During the 1950s and 1960s much of the evolution for modern color guard came from the arena of competitive drum and bugle corps. People from these corps traveled to other arenas of the country to teach and introduce color guard to other bands.

Our very own color guard puts in lots of time and effort to deliver amazing and entertaining performances with Captain Breanna Olvera (12th) piecing together and teaching the girls routines for events like home games and the Christmas parade while Coach Yudi helps piece together routines for events like band reviews and the recent Disney parade. I spoke to Jocelyn Jimenez (10th) about color guard and she says for routines taught by Captain Bre they have to practice for up to two weeks before the event and for parade events up to two months in advance to prepare.

I spoke to color guard girls Jocelyn Jimenez (10th), Evelyn Soto (11th), Madeline Bergman (11th), Kelly Lee (10th), and Avery Brasil (9th) about what it’s like to learn new routines.

What is the hardest thing about learning new routines?

Evelyn: “Getting new movements we haven’t done before.”

Jocelyn: “Learning the new routine can be challenging itself as sometimes you forget steps and feel like starting over.”

Kelly: “Getting in sync and looking like we’re doing the same as a group.”

Madeline: “I would say also getting the movements down.”

Avery: “Getting new movements down.”

What is the most nerve wracking thing about performing? 

Evelyn: “The people and knowing everyone can see us.”

Jocelyn: “Thinking I might mess up with all the people being there.”

Kelly: “Just the audience.”

Madeline: “Yea I think the people scare me a bit.”

Avery: “The fact that people can see us.”

What is your favorite thing about being in color guard?

Evelyn: “All the friends and the bonds I’ve made through color guard.”

Jocelyn: “I would have to say the friends I’ve made and the experiences I have had like the Christmas parade.”

Kelly: “Everything. Being able to make new friends and learn new things along the way.”

Madeline: “My favorite thing is being with my friends and experiencing stuff with them.”

Avery: “The girls I have made and the things we get to do together.”

While we were on spring break the color guard team did not rest as they got to perform in a Disneyland parade in Anaheim, California. Mr. Modesto said, “It was a great experience for the students and their families.  They were given some insight as to what it would be like to be a Disney cast member and we appreciate everyone who traveled to Disney to watch and support the students during the parade.” He also went on to talk about how for him it was “a proud moment to have them perform well. However, there are also some students that I know don’t do well in the heat so having to worry about them and making sure they were okay I was full of a lot of emotions all at once.”

Interested in joining color guard? Tryouts are coming up!  April 15-16 3:30-5:30 and April 17 2:30-4:00.