Sacramento’s Camellia Symphony kicked off their 2018-2019 season with a wonderful concert on September 29th, titled “Poetic Impulse,” featuring renowned pianist, Natsuki Fukasawa. With a packed audience and a standing ovation, many would consider the concert a success, and thanks to the help of McClatchy students volunteering as ushers and stage hands, as well as many high schoolers in the audience, the concert really did have a youthful energy.
Looking closer at their concert schedule for this upcoming season, one will notice that all of the Camellia Symphony concerts are to take place at McClatchy’s new auditorium.
In a partnership with the music program and student orchestra at McClatchy, adult Camellia Symphony musicians will help and give talks to McClatchy student musicians, lending their experience of playing in a semi-professional orchestra and achieving a level of musical expertise that can be of great service and guidance for young musicians. In creating this partnership, students can see the “link to music after high school,” says Mr. Muñoz, McClatchy’s music teacher and orchestra director.
The Camellia Symphony concerts add to the wonderful art and music culture at McClatchy. With a VAPA program and an active school orchestra and band, on top of a new auditorium, a partnership with a symphony brings even more local enthusiasm for what McClatchy and its campus have to offer.
While many high school campuses would be desolate on weekends, if you happen to stroll by McClatchy on one of its concert days, you will see a packed auditorium, with probably some of your McClatchy friends, and you will get to hear great music.