The sounds of two bands and the school Mariachi Band, all under the direction of faculty member Edward Maag, fill the halls of Soledad High School! Students are preparing for March 23 when 22 professional musicians from Monterey County Pops! will travel to Soledad to conduct musical workshops with the Soledad High School band and Mariachi students. Following the two-hour workshops, the students will perform with the Monterey County Pops! in a free concert at 6:30pm on Thursday, March 23.
The free concert will showcase the Beginning High School Band, the 26-member advanced band, and the newly formed 21-member Mariachi, all under the leadership and baton of Edward Maag. They will perform “Dance Celebration” by Robert W. Smith, “Ammerland” by the Dutch composer Jacob de Haan, “Salvation Is Created” by Pavel Chesnokov, “The Great Locomotive Chase” by Robert W. Smith, as well as traditional Mariachi selections.
“It’s wonderful to see this musical diversity in our schools,” says Monterey County Pops! Director Dr. Carl Christensen. “We are very pleased to make this connection with the Soledad High music program, and we are excited to make this an annual collaboration.” The bands consist of woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments. The Mariachi also includes guitars and violins.
This free Community Concert will include the Monterey County Pops! performing traditional favorites such as “Tailgate Ramble,” the Paso Doble “El Gato Montés”, marches by John Philip Sousa, classical music by Saint-Saëns and J.S. Bach, traditional Mexican favorites such as “Jarabe Tapatio”, and the popular classic “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
The concert will conclude with a thunderous performance by the combined bands of the glorious OVERTURE 1812 – FINALE by Tchaikovsky.
Earlier in day the Monterey County Pops! Woodwind Quintet will visit Ledesma and Franscioni elementary schools to present a demonstration of the woodwind instruments and a narrated version of the classic musical tale for children – Peter and the Wolf.
Learn more at montereycountypops.org.
