Aragon Music Department hosts annual potluck concert

On Oct. 24, the Aragon Music program held its annual Potluck Concert in the South Gym, its first concert of the school year. 

“[The purpose] was to show off what the music groups have been practicing,” said sophomore violinist Steve Zhang. “So it was a community event to bring people together through food and music … When we’re rehearsing our pieces, we only know what we’re playing. So with the potluck concert, every group can see what [the] others are playing.”

Class-led performances started with Jazz Band and ended with Wind Ensemble’s piece. Other performances include String Orchestra, Sinfonia Strings, Women’s choir, Concert band, Men’s choir, Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Choir.

“My favorite piece was Jazz Ensemble’s piece ‘Off the Set,’” said junior tenor saxophonist Melina Hays. “Everybody sounded so together, and it was a tune that was fun to listen to and really cut across the gym nicely. It’s a vibrant piece because it’s a mix of Latin and swing so it changes styles, and it’s very groovy and upbeat.”

Last year, student-led ensembles performed between the class ensembles, while this year, the student-led ensembles performed at the beginning of the concert, from 6-7 p.m. Student-led ensembles are performances managed and rehearsed by students primarily, while class ensembles practice and play as a part of the curriculum. 

“My favorite piece is the opening piece that the quartet played,” Zhang said. “[It’s] the first performance of the potluck, [String Quartet No. 8] by Shostakovich. I know [in] previous years, they played it a lot. The first part is pretty slow, and then it builds up intensity for the second part.”

Aragon Music families brought food to the concert for the audience to share. Despite the wide variety of food the audience had, performers had fewer options for food when they ate at 5:30 p.m. 

“Everyone brings food for the potluck part of it, but that’s mainly for the parents who come to watch the concert,” said senior cellist John Liu. “The performers have a different section outside of the gym, and that’s just regular kinds of party foods like Costco pizza, some donuts and things like that as well.”

Performers rehearsed the songs every day in class starting from the beginning of the year, and were expected to practice at least two hours every week outside of school.

“[While] rehearsing the songs, [Mr. Gallagher] always made it fun, and sometimes he’ll be intense, but it’ll be worth it,” said sophomore violinist Jaden Knox. “He interacts with everybody [and makes] lots of jokes all the time so it isn’t boring. Sometimes we won’t be playing well, so he might single us out, but it’s not really bad, it just helps us.”

Some audience members enjoyed the atmosphere at the concert. 

“It was a vibe,” said Hillsdale sophomore Lucas Ku. “The fact that it’s in the gym and not in an auditorium feels more close together [like] a community, than it [would] if we were in a professional setting … A gym feels a lot more casual to me. It feels like the [musicians are] just coming out here having a good time. I like how they don’t have to wear concert attire as well.”

The audience members sat on the bleachers and around several tables, and some disliked these seating options.

“[The] seating was a little bit tight,” said sophomore Liam Persson. “We had to squeeze through the bleachers and climb our way up to the top row just to be crammed in … It was a little uncomfortable, but we made it work.”

Other audience members had moderate expectations coming into this concert.

“I had expectations for them to do well, but definitely not their best performance,” Persson said. “Because it’s early into the year, it makes sense. Bands are still getting their rhythm… I remember last year when I did band, I know a lot of the groups didn’t perform as well as they wanted to. But this year, everything was sounding pretty good.”

For the last song of the concert, the wind ensemble performed Groovitude by Randall Standridge.  

“[Groovitude] was really good,” Persson said. “I really like the percussion in it, [and] it was a really immersive song … I feel like you’re kind of captured in the music. I did music last year, so I know how you had to tell a story through the music. I thought they did a good job doing that.”

The music program’s next concert will take place on Dec. 5 in the Aragon Theater, featuring orchestras and choirs.