Orchestra, jazz band to perform
by EDMUND LIU
Jazz band and orchestra will perform at the Gedatsu Moon Festival Oct. 4 and 5.
Jazz band will perform various pep tunes, including “The Contender,” “Hey, Pachuco,” “Land of 1000 Dances” and “Taco Mambo.”
Orchestra will perform an arrangement of 1812 Overture by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, “Hedwig’s Theme” by John Williams from Harry Potter the Sorcerer’s Stone, “Jupiter” by Gustav Holst from The Planets and “Paint it Black” by the Rolling Stones.
“[We perform] for community service and to raise money for our program, and we need performance opportunities,” said Dr. Anne Rardin, orchestra director. “It certainly gets our year off with a bang.”
In addition to performances, the orchestra will also be running food and game booths during the festival to raise money for their program. Orchestra members will run two game booths, and parents will run the food booth, selling boba tea and nachos. All proceeds will go towards the orchestra.
“The band and orchestra have very limited funds, so any opportunity to fundraise is important,” said Eileen Yoshimura, booster board member. “We need the money for instructors, instruments and instrument repairs.”
Orchestra and band started performing at the event in 2004 in an effort to raise funds for the program.
“It has become as tradition and allows new and old members an opportunity to bond,” said Lianne Chau, orchestra treasurer.
The Moon Festival celebrates the yearly coming of the autumn moon, and will include a bazaar with other food, game and shopping booths run by community organizations.
“[The concert] gives us practice getting over our nerves and makes us focus and learn our music,” said Rardin. “Concerts are always bonding experiences, and playing music makes one smarter.”