Western High School Instrumental Music Department - Noteworthy News!

Western H.S. Orchestra and Jazz Enemble at Disney California Adventure

6/18/2014

Disneyland opened up a Summer Community Arts Showcase so we jumped at the opportunity to send both the String Orchestra and the Jazz Ensemble. The two groups had an amazing Spring season so it seemed appropriate to reward their hard work and celebrate Superior Ratings and First Place Festival performances.
An application was completed and submitted with audition video. Fortunately we were selected to perform on the Hollywood Back Lot Stage at California Adventure. As qualified local school performing ensembles that also meant our admission was free!
Both performances went very well and our students represented Western High School with a lot of class and style. Thank you to Jacqueline Palacios and Christian Godfirnon for your assistance with the audition video. Thank you also to our chaperons for the day: Kristan Peterson, Kathy Rose, Pam Ball and especially Dean Peterson who drove the equipment truck and assisted the students with their equipment. Let's make this a tradition!

Huntington Beach Great Strides Cystic Fibrosis Walk Event

5/18/2014

Cystic fibrosis is a disease passed down through families that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs, digestive tract, and other areas of the body. It is one of the most common chronic lung diseases in children and young adults. It is a life-threatening disorder.
Great Strides provides a great opportunity for people within the community to get involved in a great cause. Participants can form walk teams at their workplace, through their clubs and organizations, or with friends and family.Walk day is a fun, family-oriented event with a healthy 5k walk, children's activities, food, and festivities that participants look forward to year after year.
On Sunday, May 18th volunteers from the Western High School Band participated in the Huntington Beach Walk-Run Event to raise money for research and to bring attention to this disorder. The Band was invited for the second time this school year to perform the National Anthem and a few pep tunes at the start of the race. It was an honor to be involved and we were appreciative for some fun and relaxing time at the beach and a complimentary lunch. There was additional live entertainment and events to enjoy throughout the day. I think the best part was burying Tommy Yergler in the sand and decorating him up.
Thank you to all our students and parents that gave of their time and talents to help the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. It was a great day and a great organization to help support.

Unanimous Superior Rating

3/25/2014

The Western High School String Orchestra performed at the AUHSD Music Festival on Tuesday, March 25th and received a Unanimous Superior rating. They had a wonderful performance and will now qualify to perform at a regional festival in May. Congratulations Orchestra!

International Week

3/12/2014

A spectacular week of art, music, dance, and international cuisine dominated the week at Western High School. We all pulled together in celebration of diversity and cultural heritage. We are known as one of the most ethnically diverse high schools in all of California! The International Week clubs all completed performances for a school double assembly, an evening community showcase and concluded with a special presentation for the visiting Orangeview eighth grade class. Performances by the Jazz Ensemble and Mariachi de los Pioneros were outstanding! The Friday student food faire finished of the week with food booths presented by the many clubs and organizations at Western High School. Our very own Instrumental Music program hosted a Walking Taco tooth and a Brownie Volcano booth. Many students and boosters pitched in to serve up some tasty treats! Our food is usually among the most popular food choices at the faire! We even raised over $550.00 to help in program operating expenses. Every penny makes a difference. Congratulations to Western High School for a wonderful week!

Read Across America Day

3/5/2014

Read Across America Day was celebrated at Twila Reid Elementary School with the able assistance from the Western High School Jazz Ensemble, ASB, Cheer Leaders, and Varsity Basketball Team on Wednesday, March 5th. Each year Twila Reid puts on quite the celebration beginning with Western students reading to the elementary students, The celebration moved outside with Western students cheering on the Twila Reid kids as they paraded about their campus with hats and signs they made about their favorite books. The Jazz Ensemble played on providing rousing parade music for the little marchers. Many of the Twila Reid parents were in attendance enjoying the entire celebration and procession.

Western /Orangeview Band Combo Day

2/28/2014

The first annual Western HS and Orangeview JHS Band Combo Day was held at Western HS on Friday, February 28th. The members of the OVJHS Advanced Band and Mrs. Reyes joined the WHS Concert Band and Symphonic Band and Ms. Hench in a dazzling display of 130 musicians all under one roof! We had the opportunity to perform music from each of the represented ensembles and even some of the OV Beginning Band players. We followed our musical portion of the event with a delicious pizza lunch. Thanks to our Booster President, Kristan Peterson and Parliamentarian, Mary Ellen Abaya for your assistance. This was a real "combo" of efforts that led to one great experience.

Nobel Prize Laureate & Western High School Alumnus visits Western High School

2/20/2014

Photos by Ticia Riche

Dr. Randy Schekman , Western HS Class of 1966 and the Nobel Prize recipient in Physiology or Medicine 2013 made a visit to our campus on Thursday, February 20th. His Western HS biology teacher also accompanied Dr. Schekman on his visit. It was very motivational to see him with the teacher who helped inspire and educate the future Nobel Laureate.
The school pulled out all the stops and made quite the show for the arrival. The Pioneer Regiment was at the front greeting Dr. Schekman as he exited the limousine. He stood and listened to our entire performance of our opener from our Disney show. As it turns out Dr. Schekman is a band parent and proud father of a clarinetist. The JROTC, ASB and cheerleaders all helped the stage as he entered his former high school campus. The culinary arts class prepared a reception and a luncheon for the visiting dignitaries.
The highlight of Dr. Schekman's visit was the presentation on his prize motivation: "for their discoveries of machinery regulating vesicle traffic, a major transport system in our cells". A limited number of science students had the opportunity to hear his lecture and listened with focused attention. Several of our teachers stated this was one of the highlights of their teaching career. We were all very proud to be associated in even the smallest way to a brilliant and talented man who graduated from the campus of Western High School.

Congratulations to our 2014 Honor Band participants:

2/10/2014

Ethan Muro, trumpet
Theresa Palacio, trumpet
Scott Riche, clarinet

The AUHSD Honor Band concert on Friday, February 7th was fabulous! Thank you to Dr. Thomas Lee (UCLA) for all the wonderful lessons you shared from the podium as our guest conductor. It was also great to see so many Western students, and alumni in the audience sharing in this evening of great music!

Western High School Pioneer Regiment at Disneyland

12/11/2013

Performing at Disneyland was more than a thrill, it was magic! Especially when our show was entitled "Magic Journey". We sent our audition materials in last July and were selected from scores of bands and color guards throughout Southern California to perform in the Disneyland park. Not to mention our entrance in the park was complimentary! It truly was a great reward for the many hours of practices and rehearsals. Hard work pays off in many ways!

2nd Annual Cystic Fibrosis Hike the Halo challenge at Angel Stadium!

11/10/2013

Hike the Halo is an exhilarating timed stair-climb event where you can challenge your family and friends in a race through the stadium. The course included obstacles and flat areas for running. This event was fun for the entire family. We all got to experience Angel Stadium in a whole new way and make a difference for those combating CF.
November 10th was the Band and Color Guard's first experience performing at a Cystic Fibrosis event. We asked for volunteers from the students and boosters to get involved so we could participate. The Peterson family have first hand experience with CF and volunteer regularly with Great Strides.
The Band performed the National Anthem at the starting line. When the race was off and running (literally) we performed some additional music from our field show with some lively pep tunes to get the runners going. Then we were all free to visit all the booths to try free samples, play games, run around the stadium and enjoy a complimentary food. Not that it was necessarily needed as there was free food everywhere. I am sure the kids worked it off with all there was to do.