Orchestra to tour LA over spring break

Members of the orchestra program will be touring Los Angeles at the beginning of spring break, from March 31 to April 3. This mini tour will be the biggest tour of the year for the group before the international tour to the Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands in the summer of 2017.

The trip to Los Angeles aims to help the students bond as a group outside of the classroom while broadening their musical experience through clinics and competitions. During the tour, the group will participate in the Music Festival Competition at Fullerton College and attend a soundtrack session workshop inside Disneyland’s recording studio. They will also visit Disneyland, the Santa Monica beach and  the Ahmanson Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles — to watch the show “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder.”

“Even though we went [to Disneyland] in middle school, it’s always a fun experience,” freshman cellist Thomas Lim said. “A few days there never seems to be enough.”

Many students are looking forward to having an usually relaxing trip: The different orchestra groups will play the pieces that they performed for California Music Educators Association (CMEA) earlier in the tour this time around, so they will have little to worry about for the remainder of the trip.

For senior violinists Felicia Hung and Karen Chen, the trip is their last with the program before graduation.

“Going on a tour will be be a great [way] to spend [my] time before I leave all my friends here,” Hung said. “Although driving down there will be a long 6-8 hours, it will just be great to bond with friends and orchestra buddies.”

Having been on the two-week long Spain international tour during summer 2014, Chen feels that best part of school trips is being able to spend time with her friends.

“In Spain, I got to know a lot of people I wouldn't have had the chance to talk to as much if I didn't go on the trip,” Chen said. “What makes me so excited about Disneyland is that I'll be able to meet even more new people and spend more time with the friends I already have.”