Interviews conducted by: Genesis Chavez and Alana Soukkhasem
On April 29th, members of the Redwood Advanced Band along with Wind Ensemble traveled down to Southern California along with Advanced and Chamber Orchestra where they performed at Valencia High School in the annual Music in The Parks festival.
Advanced Band flute Christine Lastimoza ’24 says, “I’m very excited to go down to Southern California and have a fun trip, I’ve never been on a school trip where we actually perform outside of the area, so this will be a new experience”.
Wind Ensemble bass clarinet Raul Arredondo ’23 adds how his experience the last time he had been on a trip similar to this one was his freshman year of high school; “The last time we went down south was in 2019 when we went to Trabuco Hills High School to perform the 2019 our show ‘Powerurge’.”
Arredondo adds, “This trip brings hope for the Redwood music department . . . this feeling about going down south just has me excited for the future”.
Lastimoza also mentions some of the music of the combined band such as Chorale and Shaker Dance by John P. Zdechlik, and Royal Scotch Highlanders by Karl L. King.
Redwood’s Orchestra students performed a piece called “America Sketches” by Joshua Reznicow and for their time on this trip.
Orchestra member Nathan Perez ‘23 says that, “Primarily, we’re playing with an orchestra that we’ve never really rehearsed with before, since both (orchestra) classes will be playing together on the trip”.
On this occasion, both the orchestra and band share excitement for this trip together because they’re “a big family and it’s nice to go out and do more than competitions, as well as do something together.” said Senior Lillian Weese ‘22, who is a four year member of both band and orchestra.Lillian
In addition to the field trip going down to Southern California to perform, students were also given the opportunity to do additional activities along with their trip.
Arredondo says, “I look forward to having fun. Everyone had to deal with Covid and how bad zoom was. And this trip is just for us to enjoy and have fun at Knott’s Berry Farm!”
Along with some of the other members in Orchestra and Band, this’ll be their first field trip to experience since middle school and Perez adds, “I’m really looking forward to this trip and it’s not just not us that are going there because El Diamante and Mt. Whitney is going too, so it’s going to be fun.”
Advanced Band trumpet Elias Hernandez ’25 who is also a first time traveler, says “I’m looking forward to going to Knotts Berry Farm because it is my first time going, the only challenge i’m facing is just trying not to let down the band and to perform to the expectations we set for our self”.
Lastimoza “I’m super excited to go to Knott’s Berry Farm. I’ve never been there, we’re also going to Medieval Times the first night we get there so I’m also very excited for that too!”
With this event also being a performance for both Orchestra and Band they also looked towards what they already expect and the challenges they may face.
“I’m not expecting any challenges that come with this trip and I’m hoping there won’t be any(challenges)” Lastimoza says.
“I know how being in a different area can affect people from what they are totally used to. But after that I see no challenges. Only greatness we are going to bring down south”
Arredondo says “I just want to say thank you to the people who have made this trip happen. Especially our teachers Mr. Ray and Mr. Yokota. Mr. Ray always makes sure that we are doing hard work and he is dedicated to the band.”
Arredondo adds that “Without him I have no idea where I would be . . . and I know I would be missing out on the best teacher in the whole valley. I just wanted to say thank you to him for making these opportunities possible.”
“We’re also playing a piece that we’ve never played before so it’s going to be interesting to see and share each other’s music in time,” Perez says
Anonymous adds that “It’s also going to be super exciting to go travel to, we haven’t had any trips to travel so far because of Covid.”
Weese adds, “We’re also going to kill it and both groups are going to do great! I just hope everyone has a good time on the trip.”
Post publishing comment- The Redwood combined band received 1st place, and excellent score, as well the overall highest score for high school concert band. The combined orchestra received 1st overall for high school orchestra and 1st place, and a superior rating at the Music in the Parks competition.The Redwood concert band were also the recipients of a “ghost trophy”.
Alana Soukkhasem
Alana Soukkhasem '25 is a first year writer for the Arts and Entertaintment section on the Redwood Gigantea.
Tags: band, music, Music in the Parks, orchestra, redwood band, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood orchestra, redwood rangers, rhs band, rhs orchestra, visalia ca
