Saratoga News

Education

Photograph courtesy of Saratoga High School

The Saratoga High School band performs in the Sydney Town Hall, one of its stops during its Australia tour in July. The band, orchestra and choir spent two weeks in Australia, where students held concerts of their own repertoire and performed with other ensembles.

Students go down under for 'uplifting' experience

By Michele Tjin

The land down under didn't disappoint the Saratoga High School contingent that traveled across oceans to perform. Australia lived up to its billing, offering exotic meat to taste, crisp blue water to snorkel in and one of the modern wonders of the world to perform in--namely, the Sydney Opera House.

Even though it's been three months since 200 musicians and choristers from the high school traveled to Sydney to take part in a music festival, those who went are still talking about the trip. There was great culture and history to soak in.

"You don't really study Australian culture," said senior Jonathan Pwu. "You study Europe, but Australia is ignored. All of Australia is really cool."

The choir, orchestra and band members traveled to Australia for two weeks during July to perform, and their experience culminated in a festival called Premiering Sydney, which drew other music groups from Australia and the United States.

The school's jazz group was the featured entertainment at a function for Australian and American dignitaries on July 4. Later that night at a reception, the Saratoga choir sang the American and Australian national anthems for the U.S. consul general at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. The other Saratoga groups also performed.

A few days later, the students played at the Sydney Opera House, which magnified all aspects of their music, Jonathon said.

"When you're playing, you get pumped when everyone is psyched up to play," he said. "The silences are extra silent, and everything that's loud is extra loud."

All the Saratoga performing groups brought their own repertoire, but they also played in premieres of commissioned pieces that were performed with all the ensembles attending the festival. Band members played in the premiere of "Sails of Time" by David Gillingham, whose works are considered standards in instrumental music.

"There was a huge percussion section, emulating the arrival of colonists to Australia," said band director Michael Boitz. "For our kids to be involved with this from the onset is a big deal. Being part of a commissioned piece is a great learning experience. They are part of the creative process."

The choir also took part in unveiling "Gloria" by Joseph Julian Gonzalez, who composes for film, television and concerts. The Saratoga orchestra was selected to provide the accompanying music for the performance.

But there was more to the trip than playing in great halls, as the students also had a chance to experience Australia. They ate camel and kangaroo meat and snorkeled in the Great Barrier Reef. The trip allowed the students to share music with others on a more intimate level. The Californians put on a concert for the students and parents of Cairns State High School.

"They showed us around. We exchanged hotel phone numbers, and we hung out with them," Jonathon said. "They pronounce everything differently."

An extensive touring trip only comes around every three years at Saratoga. The logistics can be nightmarish, and fundraising for the $3,500 trip means a lot of cookie dough and chocolate bars to sell. Jonathon said he is thankful he went. This year's drum major, Jonathon said the trip brought the participants closer together, which should bode well for their new season.

"I think it's important that the whole band performs as a unit," he said. "It made us work together more and get used to each other."

With 240 people traveling in the group, including the adult chaperones, organizers say it's amazing there were no major snags along the way. No one's luggage or instrument was left behind, but that doesn't mean no one was worried. Boitz said he spent many sleepless nights wondering if anybody would lose their tickets or if the drums met size regulations.

But the two years spent planning were worth it, organizers said.

"We want them to learn with other musical good groups and perform in halls they would never have a chance to perform in," said Jim Yowell, choir director. "I wish every one could experience this kind of educational, uplifting and exciting event in their life."

For those who toured, it hasn't been easy to forget Australia. Near Boitz's office, there are two framed letters from the dignitaries in Sydney, commending the students on their music. It's not every day he receives a letter addressed to him from a foreign official, he said.

"With a tour like this, the further I look back, I think, 'Holy cow, I feel really blessed to be part of this undertaking,' " Boitz said.

Jonathon has similar sentiments. In a sense, the experience isn't over yet because he continues to correspond with those he met at the music festival.

"I'm still thinking about it," he said. "It won't leave me for a long time."