Alhambra has given me an outlet for all of my creativity, not just in band or theater, but for all performing arts. The Performing arts Seal is a physical object that shows the dedication and effort that everyone has done for all events. I've always wanted to perform, even before High school. I loved Band and always loved to help people become better than before. The performances at the end of the year were the icing on the cake. With these past ambitions, I knew that in High school, I needed to seek a new way to perform.
My freshman year, I joined the Marching band as a freshman because for the past 2 years before, I joined the band's Senior Night. The marching band showed me how to improve my playing and how to march while playing properly. During a Marching band rehearsal, one of my good friends told me about a play audition. I didn't know much about theater at all and much less wanted to act. Nonetheless, I joined and was cast as "Marci" in Almost, Maine. Juggling schoolwork, the play, and Marching Band was quite difficult but it paid off in every football game, every rehearsal, and performance alike. In the second semester, Symphonic band was well underway and the new musical was Mamma Mia. I decided to join as a full-time construction techie and we built a two-story set with a spiral staircase. The many actors were struggling with their lines and choreography before the pandemic happened. Unfortunately, we had to cancel the musical outright.
Sophomore year was online, and I was only in "Band". The Band class was reduced to just the students recording videos of playing their instrument, and doing Music theory worksheets. I didn't do anything for Theater.
Junior year was pretty exciting, considering the lack of students. Marching band didn't have students who wanted to become drum majors, since the old drum major wanted to march for his final year. I decided to take the role as a new Drum Major and led the group for every football game and the expo. Although conducting was fun, I missed playing my baritone with the group. For theater, the new play for the fall semester was What I did last Summer, with only 6 characters. I got the role of Grace Anderson, the mother of Charlie, the main character. It was extremely fun to have a major role, albeit difficult to manage. The show date was pushed back to January because we were not ready to perform it. For the Musical, we made a Musical Review, with different songs from other musicals like Grease, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Into the Woods and Jesuschrist Superstar. For this year, I also accepted the position of "House manager" for Drama club. It was my sole responsibility to make sure the Auditorium was clean and taken care of.
Senior year, I wanted to get truly involved in both Marching band and Theater. Sadly, the Marching Band shrunk significantly from 40 to 23 to 15, and there weren't enough people to march. Instead of a normal marching Band, we became a pure pep band and I became a student leader, along with my friend Victoria (The one who introduced me to Theater). It was great playing with the Marching band one more time and in school events, students would come up to us and ask us how they would join Marching Band. During the end of the marching season, I practiced playing two solos for my ASU Audition. I applied (And was recently accepted) into Herberger for a degree in Music learning and teaching, because I love band and want to become a Band Director. For my Capstone, I played one of my two solos, Scherzo by Bagantz. For theater, I was Mikayla (Michael) in Elf in the Fall/Winter semester. it was fun working with new students and teaching them new things. For the play, Mr. Houston chose his all-time favorite play, The Curious Savage. I was cast as the lead role and worked on the set diligently to ensure it would be the best we can put out there. Unfortunately, it's the last High School production I will do and it's sad to think about, but I had a good run both in Band and Theater. For the Capstone, I also acted out a monologue from What I did last Summer.