The Bakersfield College Orchestra and the California State University Bakersfield (CSUB) Orchestra got together for a collaborative performance on Wednesday, March 5, at 7:30 p.m. in the BC Indoor Theater. The concert also featured a guest performance from East Bakersfield High School, making it a special evening with all of the musical talent heard across different levels of experience. Both the BC and the CSUB orchestra were led by Dr. Leo Sakomoto, while the East Bakersfield High School orchestra was directed by Regina Montano.
There were two separate performances, with BC and CSUB performing together while East Bakersfield High School performed independently. The piece that stood out the most to the audience was the final piece performed by BC and CSUB called Folk Song Suite. “The last song BC and CSUB played, sounded like a Disney movie,” said audience member and BC student Nevaeh Diaz, describing the quality of the piece as “dreamlike and whimsical.”
Throughout the performance, the musicians of BC and CSUB showed expressive body language while playing their instruments, which enhanced their playing. With each piece they played, their movements and engagement with the music added emotional depth, making the performance look and sound really engaging. There were several solos throughout the concert that stood out, showing the individual talents and technical skill of those musicians. The concert went smoothly without any noticeable mistakes or technical difficulties, and the ensemble played together effectively.
Having East Bakersfield High School in the concert made it special by showing off all kinds of different musical skills from the students at different levels. “Playing with BC was nice because it gave us the opportunity to come together and combine our different strengths,” said Liliana Perez, a CSUB musician.
The event was very successful in the end because it brought a variety of musical skills, from high school students to college musicians, focusing on the unique contribution each group made to the performance.
