Roosevelt High School’s gym parking lot was packed Saturday afternoon as hurried parents dropped off students with instruments and pom poms in hand.
Moments later, snare drums, trumpets and saxophones serenaded a sea of performers during spirit and marching band practice in a sunbaked softball field.
The students from Roosevelt and Garfield high schools were preparing to perform at Friday’s highly anticipated East L.A. Classic football game, touted as one of the biggest rivalries in youth sports.
“We’re going to begin with ‘Let’s Get It Started,’” Roosevelt’s band director, Max Deger, announced on a megaphone. He was referring to one of the songs the schools will perform with pop/hip-hop group Black Eyed Peas during the game’s halftime show.
Last month, Boyle Heights native will.i.am broke the news to Roosevelt students that he and his Grammy-winning troupe would again light up the Classic.
“It’s an honor to be rocking with mi familia,” said the 49-year-old Black Eyed Peas frontman in a video message. “Let’s go Riders! East L.A., Boyle Heights, represent! Chowww!”
The group had previously performed at the Classic in 2022, when the iconic game was played at the L.A. Coliseum. After a year at its most usual site, East L.A. College’s Weingart Stadium, the football game that draws thousands of fans is being played at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium, the largest stadium in the NFL.
Born William Adams, will.i.am grew up in Boyle Heights’ Estrada Courts housing project, immersed in Mexican culture. His band member Taboo’s family has strong ties to Garfield.
“We are so proud of what the students from both schools have achieved in sportsmanship, academics and showing their community pride!” Adams said in a statement. “It’s going to be a high-energy performance tonight on the SoFi Stadium field with both marching bands joining us on the field.”
With about 80 members, Roosevelt’s marching band is one of the largest in Los Angeles Unified.
“For us to be able to take the neighborhood into that space, and be able to represent not only Roosevelt but Boyle Heights, says a lot about community, art and history,” Deger told Boyle Heights Beat youth reporter Adriana Valencia.
The school’s student band leader Ismerai Calcaneo has performed in three East L.A. Classic halftime shows. She’s ready for her fourth. (Calcaneo is also a Boyle Heights Beat youth reporter).
“It’s one of those moments where our community really unites,” said the 17-year-old high school senior who plays alto saxophone. “Knowing that our community is supporting us and allowing us to play at SoFi is a dream come true.”
Garfield and Roosevelt’s marching bands and flag teams practice for a performance at the 2024 East L.A. Classic. Photos by Andrea Curiel.
Cheer and drill teams from the two Eastside schools are performing a pair of “unity” routines together before their big halftime show.
Roosevelt’s cheer captain Adrian Coyote, says his team of 36 students have been preparing for the big event since summer. While nervous, Coyote said nerves fuel his adrenaline. He’s confident that his team perfected their routines.
“It’s my first time performing with the Black Eyed Peas, so I’m really excited,” said the high school junior who started cheer as a freshman. “A bunch of my family members are going. They have their own little section to support me.”
High school junior Kiana Anaya, 16, is a side base on Garfield’s cheer team. Responsible for providing a steady foundation when a cheerleader is lifted, she performed with the Black Eyed Peas at the Coliseum as a freshman and has been attending the Classic since she can remember.
“The Classic has been a big tradition in my family,” said Anaya, whose mother is a Roosevelt alum and two older sisters are Garfield alums. “I’ve been going since I was little and would get so excited seeing the cheerleaders. I knew it was something I wanted to do.”
Photo by Andrea Curiel.
Anaya said the month of October is hectic. To survive, she tries to get as much sleep as possible, drink lots of water and eat three meals a day.
“The Classic can take a toll since it’s so many hours with the same people overworking your body,” said Anaya. “Taking time for myself and my mental health is a big factor as I prepare.”
Roosevelt drill team captain Hanna Reyes, 17, helps choreograph routines and serves as a role model for a team of 42. She’s grateful for the opportunity to make history as the first LAUSD high school to perform at SoFi Stadium but agrees that preparing for a performance of this caliber is stressful.
“I’m taking all AP classes and it’s really hard to focus on school while trying to perfect routines for the Classic,” said Reyes. “We lose a lot of sleep. There’s really no such thing as rest for leaders.”
Reyes says the long hours and practice it takes to prepare for the Classic can cause arguments with her parents. “We agree to disagree.”
Reyes’ parents love watching her perform, though and will be at the game this Friday.
“In the end, we have the memories and experience,” she said. “I wouldn’t change it for anything.”
The East L.A. Classic will take place Friday, Oct. 25, at SoFi Stadium. JV football will take the field at 3:30 p.m. with girls flag football on at 6 ahead of the varsity game, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available online via Ticketmaster.
Boyle Heights Beat youth reporter Adriana Valencia contributed to this story.
