Cal Songs
California Triumph
Written in 2004 by Hirokazu Hiraiwa and Aaron Alcala-Mosley.
© UC Regents. All Rights Reserved.
Sound Clip: MP3 (493 KB)
Boldly, Sons and Daughters,
From our hearts our song we sing.
For all the glory we shall bring her,
Alma Mater's name will ring.
Lift your voices; fly the banners;
From a distance all they shall see
Will be the symbol of California's Triumph,
Rising to Victory!
Onward, Californians,
For our spirit shall not die.
To this occasion, we shall toast her;
Lift your glasses to the sky.
Cheer your praises, strike the Band up;
May the story always be told
Of our prevailing to bring a mighty vict'ry
Home for the Blue and Gold!
In the Spring of 2004, the Executive Committee of the Band decided to hold a competition to commission a new spirit song for Cal. Fifteen submissions came from all over the United States, including California, Maryland, Texas, and Minnesota. After the selection process, Hirokazu Hiraiwa's composition, "California Triumph," was selected the winner. Hiraiwa was a trombone player in the Cal Band for four years, before graduating in May 2004.
Because Hiraiwa did not include lyrics with his submission, a second competition was held during the Fall 2004 Football season to complete the song. Aaron Alcala-Mosley, a fifth-year percussion player in the Band, won that competition.
Though new songs have been written over the years, "California Triumph" is the first new Cal Song to be adopted by the Band since "Cal Band March" in 1978.