[Nfbc-info] Blind Diamond Bar band student to march in Rose Parade

[Jim Barbour]

Here's a copy of the article with the extra characters removed.

Thanks Chela for sending this along!

Jim

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Blind Diamond Bar band student to march in Rose Parade 
By Richard Irwin, Staff Writer 

Marching Band member Miso Kwak will be striding down Pasadena Avenue in 
the world famous Tournament of Roses Parade on January 
1, 2013. The 18 year-old senior was born blind and hasn't let it slow her 
down for a minute. (Photo courtesy of Diamond Bar High School) 

DIAMOND BAR - The Brahmas marching band will have two musicians in the 
Tournament of Roses Parade Tuesday. Mi So Kwak will play the flute for the Bands 
of America Honor Band, while Diamond Bar High School instructor Casey 
Bindle marches alongside her. 

Kwak appreciates Bindle lending a guiding hand. It's tough enough for 
anyone to march the entire 5.5-mile parade route. Especially for Kwak, who 
is blind. 


"Mi So is an amazing kid. She's incredibly independent, confident and very 
talented. She has worked her way up through the band and is now a leader in 
the program," said Diamond Bar High School band and orchestra director 
Steve Acciani. 

It was Acciani who encouraged the 18-year-old senior to apply for a spot 
in the Bands of America Honor Band after Kwak learned about it via 
Twitter. 

"I really wanted to perform in the New Year's Day parade, so I filled out 
the paperwork. But I got stuck when the audition recordings had to be submitted
through software that wasn't compatible with the programs I use," she said. 

With the director's help, Kwak got a waiver to submit her audition via a 
CD. It wasn't the first time she has had to fight to be included. 

The Korean native grew up in Seoul, where she attended the National School 
for the Blind. She began to play the flute in the fourth grade. 

When her family moved to New York for her father's business, Kwak entered 
the seventh grade at the Rome Free Academy. 

I wasn't comfortable with my English, so I dove into my music. Band was 
the only class where I didn't have to use English to excel," she said. 

However, students at the academy who play wind or percussion instruments 
are required to join the marching band. 

"The band director wasn't sure about putting a blind person in the 
marching band, so he told me not to worry about it," she said. 

"But marching in the band was something I'd wanted to do since middle 
school, so I thought that was unfair and told him I wanted to 
participate," the young 
woman said. 

With the help of her friends, Kwak began performing in field shows. At 
first, they used a bungee cord to guide her. 

"When I transferred to Diamond Bar High in my freshman year, I asked Mr. 
Acciani if I could march with the band and he was cool with it," she said. 

The Brahmas decided to assign a student to guide her as she marched in the 
band. The student walked alongside her, applying light pressure to her 
left 
shoulder to guide her along the parade route. 

"I couldn't do it without the help of my guides. I trust them completely 
to guide me safely," Kwak said. 

Along the way, the brave teen has garnered the admiration of staff and 
students alike. 

"She's been doing all our marching band performances for all four years 
and doing a fantastic job. And she learns hours of music by memorizing in 
just 
a few days," Acciani noted. 

Now, Kwak is learning four new songs for her march down Colorado 
Boulevard. She began rehearsals with 300 other musicians in the honor band 
from across 
the country on Thursday. 

Recently, the Diamond Bar High band marched in the Arcadia Christmas 
Parade. 

"I watched our band march in Arcadia and everyone became teary eyed when 
Mi So marched by," said Principal Catherine Real. "It left everyone along the 
parade route with an admiration for this fearless and talented young lady." 

richard.irwin at sgvn.com 

626-544-0847 
>



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