By Arielle Nguyen
Disclaimer: Arielle Nguyen is a member of the FVRR.
For most students, leaving your home at 5:30 a.m. after getting back at midnight sounds like poor decision-making. For senior Nery Guzman, it was just part of the audition process that led to his acceptance in one of North America’s most prestigious drum and bugle corps (DBC).
Sleep-deprived and running on stress, Guzman did what any dedicated musician would do: show up anyway. Long after a two-day camp in Diamond Bar (which, to be frank, he only managed to participate in for a few hours) followed by a less-than-ideal audition, the brass player was welcomed into the Pacific Crest DBC, turning his long-time dream into reality.
“I’ve been dreaming of doing drum corps since freshman year,” Guzman said. “No matter what corps it was, I was very glad that I was accepted by [Pacific Crest]. The environment, the people, the sections — they’re all great.”
The Pacific Crest DBC is a world-class competitive DBC and is currently Southern California’s only Corps performing in the Drum Corps International (DCI) World Class Corps. In the past three years, the program has consistently been in the top 20 ensembles during the DCI World Championship Semifinals, with the 2024 semifinals ranking them at 13th place.
Prior to stepping into the world of drum corps, Guzman spent four years in Fountain Valley High School’s Fountain Valley Royal Regiment (FVRR), holding down the low brass section as a tuba player — an instrument almost as tall as he is, but not bigger than his personality. Known for his easy laugh and persistent work ethic, Guzman brought a lightness to rehearsals, quickly making even the longest days more bearable.
Over the years, Guzman became a significant member of the ensemble, taking on multiple leadership roles such as the band historian, treasurer and equipment manager. Additionally, for the past two years, he served as the tuba section leader, guiding his members with the same energy that got him through those early call times.
“There were a lot of physical and mental challenges … having to rehearse for so many hours throughout the week, it was very time-consuming and physically exhausting,” Guzman said. “The time flew by very quickly … because my friends were [with me]. It was very easy to just talk to them and finish the rehearsals earlier.”
Still, he never really had to face his struggles alone. Between repetitive runs of the field show and the quickest water breaks, the people around him, friends or mentors, pushed him farther than he thought possible. He credits much of his development to assistant band director and brass caption head Arturo Huerta Castro.
“My biggest role model is Arturo Huerta Castro,” Guzman said. “He’s given me everything, from lessons to different things I should be practicing, and [helping me] become a better version of myself.”
Among the rehearsals that dragged late into the night, performances that drained his battery and the early mornings that followed, one moment continues to shine as the highlight of Guzman’s high school marching career: his junior year’s Division Championships.
“We won [Division Championships] for the first time in a decade,” Guzman said. “It meant a lot to me. I was surrounded by loved ones and also my closest friends that I’ve made throughout my high school years.”
Standing underneath the bright stadium lights with medals around his neck burned this passion deep within him, motivating his next endeavor with drum corps, despite not feeling confident with how his audition went.
“I was very shocked [when I was accepted into Pacific Crest DBC],” Guzman said. “My audition wasn’t the best as I had hoped, but when I did get the news, it was a dream come true.”
As he prepares to step off into a completely new environment, Guzman admits there’s still uncertainty ahead — especially leaving behind the familiar faces that made marching in high school feel more like home. Even so, his goals remain grounded in growth, both as a performer and a mentor.
“I want to be a better version of myself and a better instructor in general,” Guzman said. “I want to hopefully continue teaching other high school students and bands … to show them the same passion I have for music and inspire them to do [DBC] like me.”
While teaching may not be his main choice in a career, it’s still something he hopes to carry alongside him. Guzman will be attending the University of Michigan, where he plans to major in mechanical engineering with a focus on motorsports engineering. While his lifelong goal is to become a Formula 1 engineer, marching Pacific Crest DBC is just another step forward.
“If you want to pursue DCI or any advanced level of music, mentally prepare yourself,” Guzman said. “It will be exhausting, but what I think would help is building as many connections as you can … [these people] will help you push through even when it gets tougher through the season … always push through.”
