Jazz Band

The annual Crescenta Valley High School Instrumental Winter Concert was held last Friday night Dec. 19 at the school’s MacDonald Auditorium. More than 600 people gathered to hear their favorite holiday tunes performed by more than 250 talented students of CVHS wind ensemble, jazz band, string orchestra, symphony orchestra and marching band. This year, the symphony orchestra featured CVHS choir in two of their songs, “Christmas Day” by Gustav Holst and “Hallelujah Chorus” by George Frideric Handel.

Students at Hoover High School raked in $196,000 Monday. How? Almost 200 of them received the Governor's Scholarship for scores received in the Standardized Testing and Reporting exams. Students who scored in the top 5% of the state's public high schools or the top 10% of their high school were eligible for a $1,000 award, and 196 Hoover students received the honor this year. The students were recognized -- along with peers who had accomplished similar achievements -- at an academic rally at the school.

It was a day for victories when Glendale High School hosted the Special Olympics Southern California Tri Valley regional games this weekend. More than 700 athletes, ages 8 to 80, participated in the Saturday games. About 100 younger children also competed in the event's "Mini-Meet." The games included aquatics, basketball, bocce ball and track-and-field-type events. Winning athletes were awarded gold, silver and bronze medals and all athletes were applauded before, during and after matches and games.

Darleene Barrientos Alex Noice and Colin Kupka will miss the chatter of students' voices, the thump of drums and the random strumming of electric guitars that regularly pours out of Hoover High School's music room. For Alex, 17, and Colin, 16, classes this fall will be at the California Institute for the Arts. The two boys, who have been an integral part of the acclaimed Hoover High School jazz band for the past three years, passed the state high school equivalency test and were accepted to CalArts' music program.

Joshua Pelzer A local student and pianist will represent his church and city while helping to lead the musical program at a two-week Lutheran youth conference in Atlanta. Berkeley Everett, a 17-year-old Glendale High School senior, will represent the First Lutheran Church at the gathering, which is expected to attract more than 20,000 high school students nationwide. Everett was among nearly 100 youths who auditioned for one of the event's main stage musician roles and will be part of a group that leads its musical program.

Members of the community donned their dancing shoes to take part in a swing dance fundraiser last Saturday night at Crescenta Valley High School’s cafeteria. About 100 people attended the dance fundraiser that was organized by the C.V. Instrumental Music booster club moms, led by Lisa Heflin. Although the dance itself started at 7 p.m., a warm-up swing dancing lesson was given by C.V. students Erin Gustafson and Tucker Chase and La Cañada YMCA swing dance instructors Frank and Selia Weiss at 6:30 p.m. “I initially went because of my friends in Jazz Band, but ended up having an amazing time,” said student Amelia Munson.

The 2007-2008 Crescenta Valley High School Instrumental Awards Banquet was held at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club a few days before graduation. Music director Mathew Schick handed out several awards to his music students. Throughout the evening the members of the musical departments including jazz, orchestra, string, percussion and marching band joked with each other and Schick. It was an evening to recognize the accomplishments of the award winning musicians as well as a chance for Schick and graduating seniors to say goodbye.

Alecia Foster SOUTHEAST GLENDALE -- A quarter of the way into the overture of Handel's "Messiah," teacher Amy Rangel stopped the orchestra. "You sound too far away," she told one musician. "Would it help if you were a little closer?" The students shifted around on the stage as the dress rehearsal for Glendale High's annual Winter Concert got underway Wednesday. The concert, scheduled to begin at 7 tonight, will feature performances by six different groups: the jazz band, string and symphonic orchestras, the concert band, drum line and marching band.

-- SATURDAY Soap Box Derby 8 a.m. Michigan Hill French Toast Breakfast 8 a.m. to noon Memorial Park Vintage Car Show 8 a.m. to noon Memorial Park Farmers Market 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Foothill Boulevard and Beulah Drive Croquet Tournament 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Memorial Park SUNDAY Lanterman Open House 1 to 4 p.m. Lanterman House Croquet Finals 1 to 4 p.m. Memorial Park BBQ in the Park 6 to 8:30 p.m. Memorial...