|
When Seoung-Yeon Kim transferred to Leland High School as a sophomore, she was surprised to learn that students had to bring their instruments from home to play in the school's band and orchestra.
Now a junior, Seoung-Yeon ran up against a similar materials shortage in her English class when there weren't enough copies of David Gutterson's Snow Falling on Cedars to go around.
"We had to buy our own," she says. "I didn't realize the budget cuts were so serious."
To help beef up Leland's budget, Seoung-Yeon organized a benefit concert set for May 21. A violist and a pianist, Seoung-Yeon called on her fellow student musicians to help her cause. Most of these students sing with Leland's chamber choir, perform in the school musicals or play with the school orchestra. Music teacher Ryan Rodriguez is also on the bill with his brass quintet.
Seoung-Yeon will be performing with Leland's string quartet, which she co-founded with violinists Michelle Choo and Katherine Pan and cellist David Kim.
The young musician isn't sure whether she'll also tickle the ivories during the concert, since there is no piano at the church they booked, and the one at Leland is less than grand.
"It's unplayable," Seoung-Yeon says. "It'd be a shame to play it for a concert."
Renting a baby grand would run about $500, and Seoung-Yeon is looking for a sponsor to cover the cost. The instrument is a necessity for the concert, since pianists Matt Kho, Eunice Kiang, Mai Nguyen and Christine Park are booked to play, and Tiffany Wang is set to accompany vocalists Crystal Adams, Cuyler Meade and Brenna Wahl.
While there's no guarantee that proceeds from the benefit concert will yield a new piano or other instruments for Leland's music programs, donations collected will be used to help teachers with their most pressing materials needs.
"I've been making a wish list of items teachers want in their classrooms so it can be more personal," Seoung-Yeon says.
The Leland High School benefit concert is set for May 21 at 5 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of Almaden, 6581 Camden Ave. All donations are tax-deductible.
For more information, contact Leland assistant principal Paul Yllana at
408.535.6290 or Seoung-Yeon Kim at seoungyeon.kim@gmail.com or 408.914.1095.
|
