JEFF ALKAZIAN/Special to the Acorn EVERYTHING'S ROSES- Lauren Alkazian, left, of Westlake Village waves her flag high during the 119th Tournament of Roses parade on New Year's Day in Pasadena. Alkazian, a Westlake High School junior, was part of the Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band, a spot she auditioned for. There were some familiar faces marching up Colorado Boulevard in the 119th Tournament of Roses Parade, held New Year's Day in Pasadena. Four Westlake High School students were among the 240 members of the Pasadena City College Tournament of Roses Honor Band.

Lauren Alkazian, Richard Nebens, Michael Boisvert and Jeff Ross, all Westlake Village residents, auditioned for various sections in the band. They joined with college student band members in performing such pieces as "It's a Small World" and "Everything's Coming up Roses." The group also performed in Disneyland and during two "bandfest" concerts prior to the parade.

Alkazian performed with the color guard; Nebens, Boisvert and Ross played trumpet, tenor saxophone and mallets, respectively. The Pasadena group is led by Westlake High's former music director, Kyle Luck.

"There are not many times that you're going to be able to march in the Rose Parade," said Nebens, a junior who is a member of Westlake's wind and studio jazz ensembles and regiment marching band. "There's this adrenaline you get when you see all the people standing on the street. You get this rush and energy. It's a lot of fun."

This was Neben's second year participating in the parade. Nebens, 17, was one of 49 trumpet players chosen from about 80 who auditioned.

It was Alkazian's first Rose Parade experience. Her high school color guard coach asked her to try out.

"I thought it would be really fun to try something new," said Alkazian, 16, a junior.

The auditions, held at Pasadena City College in October, were intimidating, Alkazian said. More than 100 girls tried out for only about 30 openings in the color guard, learning new routines on the spot.

"You had to have a 100 percent performance face, with a smile the whole time," Alkazian said.

At the end of the daylong tryout Alkazian was told she had made it. From then on there were fivehour rehearsals every Sunday at the college until Christmas. Then practice was held daily until parade day.

On New Year's Day, Alkazian and the others had to be at Pasadena City College at 4:45 a.m. to begin preparing for the parade. The six-mile march wasn't easy, she said, especially dressed in the borrowed onepiece, zipup velvet uniform.

"We didn't get a break; we just went from one song to another, constantly smiling," Alkazian said. "Everyone was cheering, clapping, jumping up and down. A thousand eyes were on you all the time. It kept my adrenaline going."

For Alkazian, the best part about the experience was the new friends she made from Alta Loma, Glendora and Chaffee, among other towns.

"When you spend that much time with people who have the same interest as you, you become like a family," Alkazian said.

Alkazian's parents, Bette and Jeff, who grew up in California, had never been to a Tournament of Roses Parade. They purchased grandstand ticket seats, invited friends and family and stayed overnight in a Pasadena hotel. When Lauren passed by waving her flag during the parade, both her parents became emotional, Jeff Alkazian said.

"I hid myself behind my camera so nobody could see my tears," he said. "This experience for Lauren was huge. She was able to meet people she never would have known otherwise. There's no question about it that if asked she would do it again."

Alkazian became interested in color guard while an eighth-grade student at Colina Middle School in Thousand Oaks. The captains of Westlake High's color guard spoke to students about the team. Alkazian had never heard or seen a color guard team perform.

"I've been a dancer my whole life, so to spin a flag and dance all at the same time was pretty amazing to me," Alkazian said.

She is back at Westlake High School practicing with her home color guard team but plans to audition for the Rose Parade again next year.

"I would definitely do it again," Alkazian said. "It was so cool."