Music department hosts exchange concerts

The sound of harmonious voices ricocheted off the walls of the McAfee Center as schools from across the Bay Area came together to participate in a women’s choir exchange concert on Nov. 4.

Lynbrook, Homestead, Valley Christian, Branham, Los Altos and The Peninsula Women’s Chorus participated in the concert.

The choirs performed “We are the Dreamers,” “Can You Hear” and “Follow me Down to Carlow,” and to conclude the concert, all schools came together to perform “Carols and Lullabies” by Conrad Susa.

“Singing with all of the other schools was a great experience,” senior Zabrina Chang said. “My favorite part was experiencing other groups perform, then singing as a whole with the Peninsula Women’s Chorus at the end.”

The choir plans on going on its annual trip to carol at three hotels in San Francisco on Dec. 10. They will extend the trip to see a musical as they usually do. Last year, they enjoyed “The Lion King,” while this year, they will watch “Porgy and Bess.” Later in December, the choir will hold its next formal concert at the Saratoga Retirement Center.

In the same week as the choir exchange concert, the orchestra held its own exchange concert with Lynbrook on Nov. 1. Each orchestra prepared and performed its own individual program before coming together to play a piece. The concert was followed by a potluck and a chance for the orchestra members from the two schools to meet each other.

“It was great getting to listen to all the groups play,” senior Gloria Liou said. “I got to meet some really cool people from Lynbrook because of the concert.”

Music director Michael Boitz believes that the concerts assist in instilling a sense of pride and excitement in students about whatever they are studying in class.

“We are trying to provide the students with a performing outlet that also partakes as a listening and performing outlet,” Boitz said. “Working with groups that are off campus allows us to share and exchange what’s going on in our area musically.”

Those who participated enjoyed the chance to meet new people while collaborating on shared commonalities.

“It was exciting to meet other performers who we otherwise wouldn’t have had the chance to get to know,” junior Sumedha Gupta said. “It’s a nice contrast to watch others play, and then conclude the concert by coming together with a completely different school to do what we all love — play music.”

The orchestra’s next concert, a holiday themed one, will be on Dec. 13.