Estancia’s Spring Concert
On Friday from 5 to 8 p.m., students, parents, teachers, and community members gathered at the newly built Barbra Van Holt Performing Arts Center for Estancia’s final and most anticipated concert of the school year.
The spring concert was divided into two sections with an hour intermission. The first section featured Guitar, String Orchestra, and Color Guard. Guitar performed songs including “Lagunas” by Peso Pluma, “Nunca es Suficiente” by Eslabon Armado, “Au Claire de Lune,” and several duets. String Orchestra played selections such as “Beauty and the Beast,” “Circle of Life,” “Edelweiss,” “He’s a Pirate,” and “Fantasy on a Japanese Folk Song.” Color Guard presented a self-choreographed routine by Veronica Cipriano Morales and a performance to “Ribs” by Lorde.
The band is in the middle of a break between songs. Photos by Seabass Cano
The second section showcased Jazz Band, Concert Band, Rock Band, and the inaugural performance of Symphonic Orchestra. Jazz Band performed “Pink Panther,” “The Incredibles Theme,” “Just a Closer Walk,” and “Risk it All” by Bruno Mars. Concert Band played music from Wicked and Guardians of the Galaxy, along with “Merry Go Round of Life” and “The Chimes of Moscow.” Rock Band performed “Take Me Out,” “Someday,” “Letting Go,” and “Photograph.” Symphonic Orchestra performed “Jupiter” by Gustav Holst.
Before the concert, Mr. Monaghan shared his excitement about the variety of music. “There is something for everybody,” he said, highlighting the Bruno Mars arrangement as an especially difficult college-level piece. His confidence in the students was reflected throughout the night.
Video of the string orchestra performing Fantasy on a Japanese Folk Song captured by Seabass Cano
The concert drew roughly 100 attendees and quickly became one of the school year’s strongest performances. Guitar opened the evening with one of the most well-received songs, “Nunca es Suficiente,” featuring David Olivares Salazar, whose vocals and guitar skills impressed the audience. String Orchestra followed with a standout performance of “Beauty and the Beast,” while Color Guard closed the first section with coordinated routines and Veronica Cipriano Morales’ solo performance, which became one of the night’s highlights.
Jazz Band opened the second half with “The Incredibles Theme,” performed by Mateo Torres Ruelas and Christopher Nay Wallace. Audience favorites included “Risk it All” and “Just a Closer Walk.” Concert Band followed with selections from Wicked and Guardians of the Galaxy. Symphonic Orchestra then made its debut with “Jupiter.” The concert concluded with Rock Band, also known as “Requiem,” whose performance of “Photograph” received some of the loudest applause of the night.
Picture of Christopher Nay Wallace before the concert day. Photo by Seabass Cano
Christopher Nay Wallace, a member of Jazz Band, Concert Band, and Symphonic Orchestra, described the concert as “the best one this school year.” Overall, the event successfully showcased the students’ dedication, improvement, and musical talent.
Wallace also reflected on the challenge of performing “Merry Go Round of Life” from Howl’s Moving Castle, calling it the most nerve-racking piece of the night. However, he said successfully performing it made the experience rewarding. Throughout the evening, audience members cheered after every performance, showing support for the students and directors. The spring concert not only entertained the crowd, but also celebrated the growth of Estancia’s music program and the hard work students invested during year.