The music department recently hosted its annual Pancake Breakfast to treat the community with pancakes, sausages and music while raising money for Music Boosters

The event took place on May 3. The Saratoga High Orchestra, Band and Choir all performed, along with performances by the Redwood Middle School Band, Colorguard and Choir.

The quad was packed as hundreds of parents and friends watched their siblings and kids perform while enjoying breakfast. This was band and orchestra teacher John Zarco’s last pancake breakfast before he moves to Minnesota this summer to begin a PhD program.

“I’ve known some of them for four years now, and we’re like a big family,” said Zarco. “I’m really going to miss everyone a lot.”

The various choirs also recently competed in CMEA (California Music Educators Association). Three judges evaluated the women’s choir, concert choir and chamber choir as they performed pieces that they have been preparing since the beginning of the year. The competition also includes several pieces the choirs had to sight read. All three choirs scored above 90, on a scale out of 100.

“It was fun and successful, because we’ve been working so hard for it,” said junior Evelyn Tang, a member of the concert choir.

As the school year comes to a close, the music department has also put on several concerts in the past few weeks to wrap up the year. The choir featured their talents in the Spring Concert on May 20. The choir students and the band students also performed at Madronia Cemetery on May 25 for Memorial Day. The band and orchestra had their final concerts on May 28 and 29 to conclude the year.

“We’ve worked so hard this entire year,” said Zarco. “Now that it’s done it feels good to have gotten through another successful year.” ◆