With drama over, Downingtown band plays tourist in LA

Members of the Downingtown High School Blue & Gold Marching Band arrived in Los Angeles at 3 a.m. Wednesday, exhausted, but overjoyed.

Their year-long plan to march in the Rose Parade on New Year's Day had been threatened by a blizzard, but saved in the end.

"It feels so good to have finally gotten out here," said Alex D'Ginto, 16, who plays the clarinet in the band. "Everything has worked out and we're so excited."

On Tuesday, it seemed that the award-winning band might not march in the parade.

Two flights scheduled to transport about one-half of the 350-member band to Los Angeles early Tuesday had been canceled by Continental Airlines because of the blizzard earlier this week.

Band officials - with help from local, state and federal officials - began searching for alternate transportation, and by midday Tuesday, Continental had added a special flight to accommodate the stranded band members.

The plane took off from Newark Liberty International Airport at about 9 p.m. About 10 parents and chaperones who weren't able to fly out on Tuesday were expected to arrive by late Wednesday.

After landing in L.A., the students slept for about three hours before getting up for a morning tour of the Grammy Museum. They were scheduled to march in a bandfest Wednesday afternoon at Pasadena City College. The event was moved inside because of rainy weather.

"It's raining right now, but they said the weather would be better later this week," said 16-year-old Jeremy Sinclair, who plays baritone horn in the band.

But for him, the weather is secondary.

"It's always been a dream of mine to come to California," Sinclair said, "and it's amazing."