Notes for 2025-2026: On this page is the music for the Band and Orchestra festivals in March of 2025. The music for March of 2026 will be somewhat different, but probably not completely different. This page will give you an idea of the difficulty of the music and the skills that students develop throughout the year to be able to perform.
Students who play wind instruments (flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone) will perform at a Band Festival, and students who play stringed instruments (violin, viola, cello) will play at an Orchestra Festival.
This year I plan to take my students to the following Area Music Festivals:
Mt. Diablo Elementary, Highlands, and Meadow Homes: Ygnacio Valley High School Band Festival (3/16/26) and Orchestra Festival (3/17/26), both in the YVHS Gym.
Gregory Gardens and Pleasant Hill Elementary: College Park High School Band Festival (3/23/26) and Orchestra Festival (3/25/26), both in the CPHS Gym. Note that the Orchestra Festival is two days after the Band Festival.
Note that these performances take place at a high school, and not at your child's elementary school. Transportation is not provided, so families should arrange to get their young musicians to these concerts. While participation is not mandatory, it is strongly recommended that all students participate. The students work very hard in preparation for the performances, and many report that the festivals are the musical highlight of the year. Please put these dates on your calendar - you won't want to miss it!
Note: For the 2026 Festivals Band students will play only Primo Concert Medleys #1, 2, and "Ed's Too Ta Ta Blues from Primo Concert Medley #7. The Primo Concert Medleys are near the back of the Band Karate Book (no page numbers.) The concert finale, "America The Beautiful" is in the Band Karate book on pages 28 and 29.
FESTIVAL SONGS:
ORCHESTRA
Serenata (Orchestra Karate page 35)
Evening Scenes (Orchestra Karate page 40)
The Spanish Dancer (Orchestra Karate page 41)
Hoe Down (Orchestra Karate page 47, with training pages on pp. 43-46)
Sol Do Concerto (Orchestra Karate page 48)
BAND
Primo Concert Medley #1
Primo Concert Medley #2
Primo Concert Medley #3 (College Park festival only)
"Ed's Too Ta Ta Blues" from PCM #7
America The Beautiful (Band Karate page 28 and 29)