Students from Berkeley High's band and orchestra participated in the Pacific Basin Music Festival in Honolulu, showcasing their skills by performing pieces from renowned composers. Alongside their performances, they engaged in a service project focused on environmental sustainability, collaborating with the Koolau Foundation to restore native plant species. Students expressed excitement about the festival, emphasizing the importance of their tight-knit community and the opportunity to perform for a larger audience than ever before. Their dedication to improving their craft was reflected in feedback and advice received in preparation for their performances, highlighting their commitment.
We've done a lot of work to get to this point, and it feels unreal that the day is finally here, Violet Philhower, a viola player and the president of the BHS band and orchestra council, said.
Some feedback received in local festivals included improving tone quality and technique in certain sections of The Firebird. One piece of advice we got was to believe that every note is magnificent, she said.
The students' trip also included an environmental community service project with the Koolau Foundation removing invasive vegetation and replacing it with indigenous plants.
Matilda Starbuck, a cello player and vice president of the band and orchestra program, said the group has performed in many venues across the Bay Area, playing for crowds of up to 200.
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