Over the Labor Day Weekend, the Campolindo, Acalanes, and Los Lomas music programs traveled to Southern California for a four day field trip. The group of musicians – a combination of Orchestra, Band, and Jazz Band students – had the opportunity to engage in a diverse range of activities including performing in Disneyland during the duration of the trip.
On Saturday morning, the group of students bussed down to Southern California. “The first thing we did [was go] to Universal City. After that, we went to see [the musical] Moulin Rouge,” said senior cello player Mia Shipman. The following two days, the fused AUHSD Band and Orchestra took turns performing several pieces at the Hollywood Backlot, an outdoor stage. Along with performing, students also had the opportunity to explore the Disney park. And on the last day of the trip, students took a tour of UCLA.
“We got to meet a bunch of different people from Orchestra and Band and we had to be on the same buses as them [as well as] the same sections,” said senior violist Nishta Mukundan. With Acalanes High School hosting several combined practices in preparation for the trip, students had the chance to connect with other AUHSD students on and off stage. “…We had to learn how to collaborate and really listen across a larger band,” noted junior flute player Savannah Spivey. “It was also fun to get to know other people. We spent a lot of time together on the bus or on the tour, so we got to talk to new people we [don’t] usually get to talk to.
While students found this to be a positive aspect of the trip, they also noted how it in some ways posed a challenge. “The environment was pretty cramped when we were playing on the stage,” stated Mukundan. “It was kind of difficult to follow along with new people, new conductors, and deal with rhythm changes. We didn’t get much time to rehearse with everyone together.”
Spivey noted a similar issue stating how it was “a little bit challenging to get everyone coordinated, working together, and on time” but “[once] we all figured that out, there were no major issues.”
Reflecting on the trip, students discussed the benefits of collaborative performances. “We got to meet new people and we got to learn how to operate under different conductors who conduct different styles,” said Mukundun. Senior violinist Daniel Siu agreed, adding that it was “Just a great experience to be able to play in Disneyland and see what it’s like to be a performer outside of school.”
While neither program has extensive plans for future field trips, both believe this field trip’s experiences will be valuable and memorable for their future performances and personal livelihoods.
