Video and photos by Manuel Hernandez/The Collegian

On Jan. 2, the Fresno State Marching Band capped off the 2023 Rose Parade with a five-mile performance in Pasadena.

The Rose Parade goes down Colorado Boulevard and features floral-decorated floats, non-profit organization, equestrian riders, bands and more. Hundreds of thousands of people are in attendance and millions more watch it as it is televised around the world.

The Collegian met up with the band before and during the parade day to capture the photos below and talk with some of the band members.

Caleb Benson is in his second year with the band and at Fresno State, majoring in psychology.

He said he found the band through YouTube and was hooked by its halftime performances at Bulldog games. Benson said he’s still in shock to perform at Pasadena in his sophomore year.

“But we’re all included in it. No matter where you started, this is the first year [the marching band] is going into the Rose Parade, so it’s really awesome,” he said.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned from starting [at the marching band] is being able to just let go of all of your anxiety and perform,” Benson said. “Because we put in so much work, hours and hours of rehearsal every week, and at the end of the day, we’ve given everything we need to prepare.”

Although he started playing trombone in high school, Benson participated in winter guard later on.

He decided to join the color guard instead of sticking to brass, where he gained a lot of his initial experience. However, Fresno State was another level, Benson said. What made Fresno State different from other colleges was the band member’s ability to increase the physicality, choreography and performance, he added.

“Our style is just different. We have really dynamic shows with really interesting arrangements. We have pop music, classical jazz and Latin. We include so much,” Benson said.

Heading into the Rose Parade, Benson said he was “nervous but in an exciting way.” So far, he’s enjoyed the travel with the other band members, going into the hotel and hanging out with friends during downtime.

His main message was to encourage people and Fresno State students to support the arts.

“Whether it’s music, dance, drawing or anything that shows support… because the arts are really important and a lot of people do it,” Benson said.

Jacob Grilione is also in his second year, playing baritone in the marching band, and he is also majoring in history.

He started playing in band in the fifth grade and throughout the rest of his early education. Grilione started with a trombone for concert band. Then, he later learned other instruments like the euphonium.

The Bulldog Marching Band first came to play during his junior year at Buchanan High School.

He also knew people who played for the band after graduating, so he knew it was something he’d want to be a part of.

“I’ve always been a music person, but I think the main thing was when I was a little kid, I had done sports and stuff but nothing ever really stuck out to me,” Grilione said. “So I wanted to try something new.”

Now, Grilione said he feels fortunate for the opportunity to play at the Rose Parade. He said Fresno State band members all share that same passion for music he’s had since his childhood.

“You’re surrounded by a bunch of people who share the same vision and the same fire that burns for music… I feel like you wouldn’t find that as much so that’s what makes Fresno State super unique,” Grilione said.

Although he did not feel nervous about the parade, Grilione said he was dreading the “brutal” five-mile march. The band also has an additional two miles of walking to go on and off the bus as well.

Once the marching band turns off Orange Grove Boulevard, it walks down a steep hill and around six more miles of hard pavement as coastal winds push them back.

“I’m hyped though. It’s been so fun for me so far,” Grilione said.

He said section leaders like Christian Gallegos played an important role to make everyone feel comfortable and prepared for big performances.

Kaylee Ghan is a freshman, majoring in political science through dual enrollment with Fresno City College. She plays the mellophone.

Ghan first saw the band perform her freshman year of high school during the Sierra Cup Classic, a band competition the Bulldogs Marching Band host at Fresno State.

After she graduated high school in 2022, she got to experience the Fresno State campus for the first time and immediately jump in the most eventful year in the band’s history. Ghan said it was intimidating at first, being a freshman at the Rose Parade.

“I’m kind of scared for it, but I think it’s going to be really fun. It’s really a great opportunity,” she said.

“It was kind of intimidating, but the more I though about it I was like, ‘OK, well, it’s not that bad. It’s only seven miles. It’s definitely going to be an experience for sure,'” Ghan added.

She also said her section leaders have been a great support system such as Lauren Webb and Jego Canales; and more experienced band members as well such as Wyatt Bible and Abel Hernandez.