My name is Aiden Aguilar, and I am incredibly honored to share that I was recently accepted into Pacific Crest for the 2026 season. Out of a highly competitive audition pool, I was selected as one of only 165 performers. A dream I have been working toward for over 10 years.

Music has been a huge part of my life, shaping who I am and giving me a sense of purpose. Being part of Pacific Crest is an opportunity to grow as a musician, a student, a performer, and a person. I will spend my summer training and performing alongside world-class instructors and talented performers, gaining skills, discipline, and experiences that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Pacific Crest is Southern California’s World Class drum and bugle corps. Our season begins with Spring Training on June 6, followed by performances across California, and then a four-week national tour starting July 12. The experience will culminate at the Drum Corps International World Championships held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis this August.

However, this opportunity comes with a cost. The total tuition for the season is $6,500, which covers transportation, housing, meals, uniforms, instruments, instruction, and production expenses. While I am fully committed to this experience, I need support to make it possible. These costs exclude the flight back from Indianapolis (after the season with PC ends).

If you are able to contribute, any amount (big or small) would mean so much to me. Your support will directly help me take part in this opportunity to continue pursuing my passion for music.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for considering supporting my journey. Even sharing this page helps more than you know.

Every dollar means the absolute world to me but if you cannot donate please don't worry. Thank you for reading and your time. I will be leaving my experience with marching below to further help you understand why you would want to donate to me.

With Love,

Aiden M. Aguilar

Background:

I have been doing percussion ever since I joined in 4th grade. Since then to the present day I have been dedicated to the love, passion, and performance of music.

Schooling 2014-2023

I spend my entire school education participating in musical activities. Marching band, Concert Percussion, Winter Percussion, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, and Jazz Band. This is where I would meet my best friends and so many more people in the band community.

Fresno State Marching Band 2023-2025

After graduating from my high school, I would join the Fresno State Marching Band in 2023. This is where I would hone in my skills while also have so much fun. The people, the environment, the passion, and the energy was something that I will never forget. I did not only grown as a person in those three years in BMB but also grew as a player and just continued to keep getting better and better. I also performed in the 2025 Rose Parade, super fun experience.

Red Wave Indoor 2025

This is a season that changed everything for me. A season that showed me what exactly is possible in this activity. I will leave my Instagram caption I made after the season because I think it portrays my emotions the best.

"A little over a year ago i had no interest in doing anything wgi/dci, including Red Wave. I am incredibly happy that the world ended up pushing me towards it. Personally, Balance of Self (our show at the time) is a constant reminder that nothing will last forever, it might be over soon. It might end tomorrow. I take this message throughout my life, constantly trying to live every single moment to the absolute fullest. I believe I have lived this season to the fullest I can. I have recently been thinking a lot about my life, I have since realized that no matter how much I wander off, my life always leads me back to what I love. This activity. Even though things might be over soon, I will live every single moment of my life to the fullest. I was given a life to live for a reason, so I will live and love it.

Thank you to everyone in this community that makes this something special. I feel like I am genuinely becoming apart of a growing community and to be able to genuinely have people look up to me is so amazing. There are so many people obsessed as much as I am with this niche activity and I am so happy to finally be making a name for myself. Being in Dayton, seeing all the other groups with the exact same passion I have for this activity made me realize that this can really be a future for me, a real chance to try and make an impact.

This is everything I live for."

Meraki 2026

This is the season that I am currently participating in. The group I drive 5 hours every weekend to get to. This group so far has taught me discipline, skill, and truly has taught me to continue pushing no matter what. Even though the season is not over just yet, this group means everything to me and has been the most fun experience I have EVER had in my life. Thank you Meraki so far ⏳

Pacific Crest 2026

This group is my future. The group I am currently giving everything to perform at. Thank you for reading this all. I hope my story was interesting to hear and any donations mean the absolute world.

❤️