Cal High Bands Rock Their Concert

All was quiet in Cal High's dimmed theater as four musicians dressed in immaculate black shirts, black pants and contrasting white ties entered the stage.

They set up their instruments – one piano, one guitar, one bass and a drum set – and kicked off the evening's entertainment with a relaxing jazz combo piece.

On Wednesday night, the Cal High's annual spring concert showcased the band program's countless hours of practice and hard work.

The jazz and wind ensembles performed more than half a dozen pieces total, ranging from smooth jazz to intense concert arrangements.

Jazz ensemble and wind ensemble are the most advanced band classes offered at Cal High, and wrapped up the spring concert season on Wednesday after the younger bands string orchestra, concert band, and symphonic band performed on Tuesday night.

Of the four concerts every year, the spring concert is always important because the pieces the ensembles play in the spring will also be performed at band festivals and competitions that typically take place in April and May, said director Kent Johnson.

Although the theater was not packed, there was a good sized crowd supporting the bands. Seats slowly filled up as late comers trickled in during intermission, the switchover between the jazz ensemble and the wind ensemble.

The jazz ensemble performed first with "Land of Make Believe," "Birdland," "Sky Dive," "Cotton Tail" and "High and Flighty." The wind ensemble followed with "Ferne Weite," "Autumn on White Lake" and "A.B.A Symphonic March."

I was able to chat with some of the band members afterwards to see what they thought of their own performance.

Junior Kristine Craig, a bass clarinetist in wind ensemble, thought the concert was a success overall.

"I thought we did a pretty good job," she said. "We've been practicing for this concert for three months."

Junior Abigail Vilar put on a double-show, playing piano for jazz ensemble and timpanies for wind ensemble.

"My favorite group is jazz because piano was my first instrument," she noted. "But it's good to expand in new genres. Wind is challenging but rewarding, especially when we perform the whole set well."

If you missed Wednesday's concert, be sure to drop by the Cal High theater on May 31 or June 1 to watch the year-end concert.

The orchestra, symphonic band, and concert band will be performing on May 31. The jazz and wind ensembles will be performing on June 1.