The UCLA Marching Band’s 2023 Tour of Taiwan

December 19, 2023 

The UCLA Marching Band is used to traveling, but 2023 turned out to be special. For a week in October, the Solid Gold Sound toured Taiwan and performed as an honored guest in Taiwan’s National Day celebrations at the invitation of President Tsai Ing-wen.

For many Bruins, the trip was a life-changing experience. More than a dozen had never left the United States before, and the School of Music assisted securing them passports. Universally, Bruins reported being overwhelmed by the warm welcome they received from the Taiwanese people. They found beautiful, heartfelt welcome letters waiting for them in their hotel rooms and were daily treated to boba milk tea and delicious desserts.

“We were all treated like celebrities, with cameras following us around everywhere,” said Angelina Chen, the feature twirler. Chen, who spent two years in China as a child and speaks fluent Mandarin, was still surprised and delighted by her explorations in Taiwan. 

For those who had less exposure to East Asian culture, the trip made an indelible impact. Sophia Buraglio, a fourth-year drum major, raved about her first-ever pineapple cake. Emilia Magdaleno, a second-year trumpet player, was impressed with the communal dining experience in Taiwanese restaurants enhanced by the Lazy Susan. The rotating tray placed at the center of the table, relatively uncommon in American restaurants, allowed Emilia and her friends to share dishes without having to worry about passing food around. All agreed that such nights helped bring the band closer together.