DHS-Holmes Orchestra Boosters
Spring 2024 Newsletter
The DHS-Holmes Boosters supports the Measure N Parcel Tax Renewal Measure. By voting to continue the current stream of parcel taxes, we can maintain the exceptional educational programs our students rely on, as well as the specialists and teachers that provide them. Our unique orchestras are internationally-recognized and provide students with unparalleled opportunities. We are grateful for the ongoing support that the Davis community has invested in our schools and hope we can keep providing these tremendous musical experiences for our students.
Join us for the highly anticipated Wennberg Orchestra Festival on April 14, 2024, 2:30pm, at the Mondavi Center. This beloved annual event is a celebration of the DJUSD Orchestra Program, showcasing the exceptional talents of the Davis Senior High School Orchestras, the Holmes Junior High School Orchestras, the Davis High School Strings Tutoring Program Orchestra, and the Davis All-City Orchestra. This year will feature the 2024 DHS Concerto competition winners, Jenna Son on violin and Caitlyn Ohler on piano. Ticket information will be available soon on our website HERE.
Join us for an afternoon with Maestro Michael Sand, hailed by Isaac Stern as a master of the Baroque violin. For nearly three decades, Sand has been a beacon of knowledge and inspiration in the realm of Baroque music, shaping generations of musicians including Angelo Moreno, whose journey with Sand has led to the creation of the groundbreaking DHS Baroque Ensemble.
Michael Sand's virtuosity and dedication to the intricacies of Baroque performance have earned him international acclaim. As a founding member of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and director of Arcangeli Baroque Strings, his influence resonates across continents.
We hope to see you at the Richard Brunelle Performance Hall, Davis Senior High School, on May 18th. Doors open at 2:30 pm, with the concert running from 3:00 to 4:30 pm. Your generous donations at the door will support the DHS Baroque Ensemble's 2026 Spain-Portugal-France Tour.
The Davis High Symphony Orchestra has just wrapped up its series of five annual outreach concerts, reaching almost 2000 attendees from local schools and the wider community. This year's performance of "Peter and the Wolf," featuring narrator Ann Moss and the artistry of the Puppet Art Theater Co., engaged audiences of all ages. Through this immersive experience, students gained valuable insights into the instrumental components of a Symphony Orchestra and were encouraged to explore further through participation in elementary music program offerings.
We are extremely grateful to the Li Family Fund and Tandem Properties for their financial support of this outreach concert series. If you were unable to attend one of the shows, you can watch a recording of the performance HERE.
The Holmes Junior High Advanced Orchestra embarked on its annual journey to two nearby elementary Schools, Birch Lane and North Davis, to encourage students to participate in the fun and teamwork of making music. The 76 students in the Advanced Orchestra performed for hundreds of elementary students during 4 assemblies.
On March 2, the advanced orchestra will mentor younger strings players during the Annual Elementary Strings Workshop at Holmes Jr High. On March 13 at 7pm the Holmes Intermediate and Advanced Orchestras will perform side-by-side with future Holmes students. More information, and registration for the workshop, can be viewed HERE.
The DHS Strings Tutoring Program was excited to present its third annual Tutoring Program Concert on February 18. The showcase of music and mentorship featured recital performances and orchestras composed of students and mentors. Established in 2019, the program has flourished, serving over 160 students and engaging 80 tutors. Through strong mentor-student bonds, it fosters musical passion and skill development. Led by dedicated student leaders, the program offers affordable private lessons and performance opportunities for students of all levels. Join us in celebrating the magic of mentorship at the Annual Wennberg Orchestra Festival, where the DHS Strings Tutoring Program Side by Side Orchestra will perform alongside the DJUSD orchestra community. To learn more, visit our website or contact dhsstringstutoring@gmail.com.
"As Student Conductor for our 2024 Tutoring Program Concert, I saw firsthand the incredible impact of the DHS Strings Tutoring Program. The tutors were eager to help, and their students were just as excited to learn. Our orchestra was filled with supportive energy and enthusiasm. Meeting everyone individually was especially inspiring, because I saw the close connections that had formed between the tutors and their students." - Michael Wang, Student Conductor & Co-President
"Our tutors not only inspire their students to love music, but also are inspired by their students to give their all to teaching." - Ellie Chang, Co-President
Tracy Louie, Booster Board President, had the pleasure of interacting with Roger Xia, DHS graduate Class of 2020 and former DHS Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster, over email. As busy as he is, Roger graciously agreed to answer some questions to let us know about his current endeavors.
Tracy: What instrument(s) did you play while in high school and now? And what orchestras?
Roger: I played piano and violin in high school, and still play both instruments in college. In high school, I was Concertmaster of the Davis Senior High School Symphony Orchestra and San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, and Associate Concertmaster and Celeste player in the National Youth Orchestra (NYO-USA). In college, I am concertmaster of the Stanford Symphony Orchestra and Stanford Philharmonia.
Tracy: What have you been up to since graduating from DHS?
Roger: I am finishing up my senior year at Stanford studying Biology and Music, and I am also completing a Master’s in Biomedical Data Science. For music, I have been continuing to play in orchestras and chamber music ensembles with friends, as well as taking private piano and violin lessons. As a 2023 winner of the Stanford Concerto Competition, I was very fortunate and honored to perform Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 as a piano soloist with the Stanford Symphony Orchestra last May (video here). In 2021, I played a duo concerto with my friend and classmate Richard Cheung with Stanford Philharmonia in Bing Concert Hall (video here), and we also performed at the Bermuda Music Festival during our sophomore spring break. Additionally, I participated in the annual Thomas Schultz Summer Piano Seminar at Stanford every summer since 2021 and joined other Stanford piano students to perform at the Arnold Schöneberg Center in Vienna, Austria last May. On March 9, I will be coming back to Davis to perform Ravel Piano Concerto in G with the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Christian Baldini at the Mondavi Center (details here). I feel very grateful for these opportunities to continue pursuing my passion for music throughout college!
Tracy: What's your most memorable moment or event while playing music with the DHS Orchestras?
Roger: I will always remember performing Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the DHS Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall in Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage during the summer right after my sophomore year. On top of the beautiful and historical venue, it was a very special moment to share the stage with my best high school friends and make music with them under the baton of Mr. Moreno.
Tracy: Any advice for current junior high and high school orchestra players?
Roger: Cherish the time you have playing in the school orchestra! Time will fly by sooner than you think (it certainly did for me!). Music truly is something very special that can certainly stick with you for a lifetime, and school orchestra is a great place to meet like-minded musicians and forge lifelong friendships.
2018: Roger Xia played Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 with the Davis Senior High School Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage
Before we know it, these next four months will fly by and our DHS Symphony Orchestra students and chaperones will be taking off to New York City. We have been busy fundraising for this New York trip in the following ways: our Great Bear Wine/Food/Music/Auction event, restaurant fundraisers at Panda Express, Chipotle, and Dos Coyotes, quartet ensembles performing at various events, direct donations, Nugget SCRIP, sponsor donations, concert donations, and our most recent fundraiser at Sudwerk for a Beer Tasting/Lecture with Dr. Charlie Bamforth.
We will be holding another restaurant fundraiser at any Panda Express nation-wide on Thursday, February 29, 2024. Why cook on this extra day of the year? Eat out at Panda Express and help support the Symphony Orchestra on their way to New York to perform at Carnegie Hall! IN ORDER FOR US TO RECEIVE 28% BACK FROM YOUR ORDER, YOU MUST ORDER ONLINE (www.pandaexpress.com) AND USE THIS FUNDRAISER CODE 921355. We will not receive any credit from in-person ordering.
If you are interested in making a direction donation towards our New York Tour, please visit: https://ny-tour-2024.cheddarup.com
Thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
Tracy Louie
New York Tour Coordinator 2024
DHS-Holmes Orchestra Boosters President