3 minute read
High school music fest teams up with LA Winds
Alexis Antoniadis / Roundup
Students from Granada Hills Charter High School and the Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies visited Pierce College to perform for the 17th Annual High School Music Festival.
The event took place on Friday, March 4 in the Performing Arts Center. There were dozens of students running around the event trying to locate and assemble their instruments moments before the performance began.
“I am somewhat nervous, only because I have a solo,” said Jared Green, who is the only tuba player in the Sherman Oaks band.
According to Green and his other band mates, they practiced at least three times per week since January, and about two hours of practice on their own time.
James Tang stuck out from the crowd with his mohawk hairstyle. The 16-year-old flute player is a member of both the Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies, and the Los Angeles Pierce Symphonic Winds.
“I like [Pierce] more, it’s more advanced music,” Tang said.
Tang has been playing the flute since the 5th grade, and has been practicing with the Los Angles Winds since last summer.
The director of the Los Angles Pierce Symphonic Winds, Stephen P. Piazza hosted, directed, and also performed at the event.
His expectations for the night were high, and he was exited for the students to perform. He was also grateful for the variety of people that showed up to support the high school students, as well as the Los Angeles Winds.
“It’s a different audience entirely,” said Piazza.
After each band finished their performance, Piazza and retired music professor Dr. Hume critiqued the students, and gave them words of encouragement.
“The journey, that is what music is all about, the journey,” said Hume.
Hume continued to praise and advise the “young people,” and urged them to keep listening to the music and to have a good time playing.
“The more you have fun with it, the better you play it,” said Hume.
The event concluded with the Los Angles Pierce Symphonic Winds, and the duet of Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd, which starred Stephen Piazza and Helen Goode.
The high school bands were relieved that the performance finally came to an end, and they were all able to hang out and enjoy themselves with pizza.
Overall, the students were satisfied with their performance as were their conductors.
“I mildly messed up,” said Green. “I can’t wait for next year.”
