Poway High School to Celebrate This Year's Concert Season

The Instrumental Music Program will celebrate the end of its concert season with three days of concerts and awards at the this week.

Band Director Mike Cook said all of the ensembles received “great ratings” at various music festivals this year.

“The concert season was very successful,” Cook said. “All of the groups were very successful at the festivals. It was a good year!”

Poway High School’s Orchestra will present its spring concert on Wednesday, June 1. Roughly 90 students will perform big band hits and play selections from The Phantom of the Opera, Cook said.

Poway High School’s bands will perform popular music, including movie soundtrack and Broadway hits, during their spring concert on Thursday, June 2, Cook said. About 200 students make up the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony, he added.

The concerts will also feature solo performances by graduating seniors.

“I tend to have auditions for seniors that want to be featured,” Cook said. “If they’re good enough, I put them in the end-of-the-year concerts. This year, we have six."

Mike Hutton and Michael Lambert will play the clarinet, and Haley Stegman will play the flute during the orchestra concert, Cook said.  will play the alto saxophone, Mackenzie Murray will play the clarinet and Marissa Papet will play the trombone during the bands concert, Cook added.

The six outstanding seniors won’t be the only students honored throughout the week. A variety of awards, including most improved musician and outstanding concert and marching sections, will be presented, Cook said.

Orchestra awards will take place after the concert on Wednesday. Band awards will take place on Friday, June 3.

“I think it’s important to recognize the achievements of as many kids as possible,”Cook said. “We have some outstanding kids who have been here for four years, seniors that have made a commitment to our program and have gone above and beyond a typical student. It’s important for us to recognize them, and not only the seniors and their commitment, but everybody.”

Wednesday and Thursday’s events begin at 7 p.m., and Friday’s event begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $5 for adults and students are free at each of the events.

Although typically only family members stay for the award presentations, Cook encouraged community members to come and enjoy the musical performances.

“For $5 admission charge, it’s probably the cheapest, quality entertainment and music that you can come listen to,” he said.

In other arts news:

• and Bernardo Heights Middle School will present their spring orchestra concerts at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts today. The show starts at 6 p.m. For ticket information, contact Ulli Reiner at ureiner@powayusd.com.
• Dancers from the San Diego Academy of Ballet will take the stage at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday and Sunday. Students from all class levels will perform original ballet and jazz pieces. Performances will take place on Saturday at 7 p.m. and on Sunday at 1 p.m. Tickets range from $12-$24.
• The  will offer a beaded jewelry-making class on Sunday. Students will get to make two beaded bracelets and choose a new watch face to create a personalized timepiece. The class will take place from 3-5 p.m. For more information, call Bonnie Stromer, the center’s founder and director, at 858-679-2787. The Xpressive Arts Center is located at 12257-B Old Pomerado Rd.
• The annual Sam Hinton Folk Heritage Festival will take place at Old Poway Park on Saturday, June 4. Hosted by the city of Poway and the San Diego Folk Heritage, the free event includes musical performances, music workshops, storytelling, a bluegrass jam, a contra dance and an open-mic stage. The festival, which will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m, will feature a variety of musical styles, including bluegrass, folk and Irish music. For more information, visit www.sdfolkheritage.org.