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Community Corner

ECHS Music Dept. Spring Concerts and Alumni Weekend, 3/21 – 3/23

The El Cerrito High School Music Program is hosting the Band Reunion Weekend, a celebration of the program’s storied history that wraps up a two year, $75,000 campaign for much needed new instruments for its students.

The events will take place in the state of art El Cerrito High School Performing Arts Theater located at 540 Ashbury Avenue in El Cerrito, CA.

The Band Reunion Weekend will include performances by the ECHS bands and jazz ensembles in addition to rehearsals and performances by two alumni ensembles, the Alumni Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble, led by former ECHS Band directors spanning the last five decades.  The culminating event will be the Alumni Band Concert, on March 23, 2014 at 6:00pm. Joining the Alumni Band in performance is the Bay Area based brass ensemble, Brazzissimo. Brazzissimo is comprised of players from a wide spectrum of music and professional backgrounds including symphony, opera, big bands, Latin bands, show pit orchestras, soul-funk, jazz and Dixieland combos. 

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Over the course of this three-day event, the school will honor all former ECHS Band Directors (living and deceased) and will feature talent from the past and present. In addition to connecting to the alumni and former music teachers at ECHS, attendees also have the opportunity to purchase a written history of the instrumental music program at El Cerrito High School; a narrative that documents the history, accomplishments, course offerings, awards, first hand accounts from former band directors and alumni, and photos of the bands from throughout the decades. Included with the written history, a six disc box set with archival recordings of ECHS bands, orchestras, and jazz bands dating as far back as 1956.

Under the guidance of ECHS Director of Bands Keith Johnson, the music program at El Cerrito High School has seen a resurgence of participation and achievements over the past four years. Over this time the program has grown from 55 students in 2010-11 to over 175 students moving into the 2014-15 school year. In recent months the El Cerrito bands have gained notoriety and been the recipients of multiple awards.

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Alumni and community members can support the efforts of the students on their campaign by attending one or all of the weekend’s events. Concert times are listed below and complete information on concerts and donations are available online at www.echsbands.com.  Tickets are $15.

Friday, 3/21 @ 7pm:  ECHS Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band

Saturday, 3/22 @ 7pm:  ECHS Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Workshop, Jazz Lab, Jazz Quintet, Alumni Jazz Ensemble

Sunday, 3/23 @ 6pm:  Alumni Band Concert, Brazzissimo

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