Cailin Acosta in La Mesa, California
A night to remember unfolded as the La Mesa Arts Academy orchestra performed alongside the Helix Charter High School orchestra, highlighting the connection between the two programs. The evening also featured the Lemon Grove Middle School orchestra, which performed a couple of their pieces.
The students of all three schools joined together for a performance featuring Mariachi music, showcasing the Grossmont Union School District’s rich diversity and culture. It also gave the middle school musicians a glimpse of what their high school future could look like if they are accepted into Helix Charter and continue their music studies.
CeCe Acosta represented La Mesa Arts Academy as second chair violin.
Under the direction of Mario Jativa, the orchestra performed Reverie by John Corigliano, an American contemporary classical and Jewish composer. Corigliano has written more than 100 compositions and has received numerous awards, including a Pulitzer Prize, five Grammy Awards, the Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition, and an Academy Award.
This concert also marked a year of “lasts,” as my 14-year-old twins, CeCe and Alex, will be heading to Helix Charter High School in the fall. It was especially nostalgic seeing them perform on the same campus I once attended. When I was a student at Helix, concerts were held in the gymnasium, where parents and friends sat on uncomfortable bleachers. What a treat it was to now enjoy the performance in theatre seating, with the option of sitting in the balcony overlooking the stage and easily pointing out your performer and their friends.
It was truly a special evening celebrating the hard work and dedication of these talented student musicians, as well as the teachers who are committed to exposing students to composers and musical genres that spark curiosity and help keep the arts alive in the district.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.