The Aragon music department hosted its annual music potluck on Sept. 20, in the South Gym. The concert began at 5:30 p.m. with the sharing of different dishes, which were lined up on long rows of tables. Parent volunteers provided food and help in setting and cleaning up. The potluck was followed by performances by Aragon’s large variety of musical groups such as bands, orchestras, ensembles, a cappella groups, and choir classes. They quickly switched so each music student and group could play.
Band Director Kevin Gallagher spoke of how the event unites musicians and showcases each groups’ talents.
“Not only will [students] bring delicious foods to share amongst each other,” Gallagher said, “but it is the only time where everyone will hear every single class and ensemble perform one piece of music during that entire night.”
This was Rosaline Tangounian’s first year attending the music potluck and she described her reaction to the music potluck as a parent attendee.
“I’ve never seen so many kids play instruments like this, in any place, or any school,” Tangounian said.
The students that performed were in classes and clubs which included jazz band, concert band, symphonic band, chamber orchestra, string orchestra, jazz ensemble, wind ensemble, September acapella group, Group Name acapella group, Treble with Angels acapella group, men’s choir, women’s choir, and chamber choir.
“Everybody in different bands gets to know each other before the [future] concerts, and a fun opportunity to see everybody else play,” said concert band freshman flutist Geneva Williams. “The event will be really interesting because it’ll be nice to see upperclassmen and lowerclassmen interacting.”
Sophomore alto saxophone player Calissa Leong states that band is more than about being musicians, but also about being a community.
“Everyone can enjoy music in one place, at one time, instead of going to many different concerts where there isn’t so much of a community bond,” Leong said.
“It sounded like a small party, like a family party,” said parent volunteer and attendee, Lucy Nersessian. “It brings us together.”
Gallagher appreciated the many parents that attended and contributed to the potluck.
“Most parents don’t even come off work until 6:00, so we’re expecting parents, and families, and friends, and everybody to come earlier than when they might normally get off work,” Gallagher said. “They’re the ones who’ll provide the paper plates, the cups, etc. So, having that core parent boosters group is essential because Mr. Chen and I cannot do it ourselves.”
Junior violin player Ariana Tao expressed what many students also enjoyed about the potluck.
“It’s a free event where music students… all play,” Tao said. “And there’s free food that parents prepare.”
Gallagher explained why the music potluck was not a fundraiser.
“This is a community building event, which is why it’s free. Most of our concerts are not free and that’s how we do our fundraising,” Gallagher said. “Being that this is the first event[of the year] and it’s a potluck and there’s food and people are bringing and sharing, it would just make sense that it would be free.”
The cost and purpose have remained the same through past years but the order of performances and its layout has changed.
“They’re changing the setup of the overall concert. Last year everything was inside. There was lines out the door,” Leong said. “This time there’ll be food outside, so I think it’ll be less crowded.”
Though Gallagher is a fairly new Aragon teacher, he is not new to the music potluck, which he has known since his high school days in the ’90s.
“I was here for the first [origination] as a student, if you can believe that,” Gallagher said. “When I was a freshman in high school, the band director started a new thing which was just a potluck. It wasn’t even- there were no music performances… Over time, there became performances.”
Aragon’s annual music potluck has been changing for 20-30 years to become the event we celebrate now. However, like the very beginning, the music potluck has and will continue to bring people together.
