Saturday after napping and yawning through the morning lovely, the kids and I went to the 2nd Annual Mesa Union School District Music Festival.
This day long event showcased this year a variety of local talents to promote music appreciation, the value of arts education, who we are, and really to celebrate the diversity and variety of musical styles meeting here in Ventura County, CA. Give something special to kids really!
I went just to listen and enjoy the work my husband John Puglisi, his staff and contributors took quite an effort to pull together. It matters in our lives. After years in my life as spouse I knew a few things, 1) stay out of the way 2) Jack would be running around 3) It would appear to go fine 4) go with a little cash 5) figure it's his thang. Be positive.
So, feeling not too helpful, I did enjoy a wide variety of things especially all the kids doing so many music related activities.
Here's the playbill:
I took a few photo's, okay I took 600.
I love to photograph dance, costume, movement, people, children celebrating the cultures and places that they still recall and celebrate in their new lives here in America. There was a lot of dance Saturday. It's fascinating to try to find ways to capture dance in still shots. You have to suggest movement, sound, the feel of this is very hard to pull into a photograph. Harder still music....Plus I was limited in movement I could use throwing my back out not long ago. I like some of my photo's and they can tell the days story here. I'm still as yet unable to easily embed a slideshow here. Have to think about this today, perhaps add it in.
On to the day:
He released a tape several years past. Of kid's tunes.
But I'm not sure how to link it. Must add in sound as I figure that out, check back....
I missed the Parachute Express and the Kid's talent show the two big hits of the day so my pictures are not here O...;-( That's possible, bringing such a big name to really make the Festival special, because Ms. Lindsey is the lead of this group and works with Mesa music so that she brought to the children something extraordinary.
Here is a link to them.
When I got to the school the coolest Jazz band from Pacifica High School (Oxnard Union High School) was playing led by Cathy Rogers. Loved Birdland. I know they are the coolest because for her time in high school my daughter Sylvia played with them. Excellent job and from the festival they were given a conga set, last year a drum kit, donated by D.W. Drums of Oxnard
( and the world). The pictures are not stunning.....my bad
Rio Mesa High school did not come as planned but one of their students a piano talent that is ...well beyond my words Danny Lesler did come to perform pieces that were wonderful. My favorite the Oscar Peterson Hymn to Freedom. He also played Sugar, which I love. He is getting to be an awesome player...one day we will know this musician far and wide. He was a Mesa Alumni.
For playing Danny earned a Cajon. Our good friend Machucho from Peru is a cajon player so it has long been a part of our family life. He is just returning from cancer in Peru, losing our dear friend his mom Lucia Bonilla last year. Machucho taught us well the history of the instrument, how it arose out of suppression. My husband talked a good bit to the audience about the freedom aspects in music, the ways that native peoples have expressed their lives and cultures in music, the connections it makes to who we are.
It was a very inspirational part of the festival.
By the way, Machucho has done workshops for the kids at Mesa Union in percussion , on cajon, and he has worked for over twenty years prior to this cancer in the Red Cross. He went to every American and world disaster I ever heard of giving up jobs and making a difference with his life/efforts though largely then living as close to poverty as one can. He was ruined in the 911 time in New York health wise with many, many others where his lungs and system were fried. Funny, Red Cross forgot about him then providing no, absolutely no follow up care to him to help him. My husband trying to get him this found a closed door. Machucho with music, with hands outstretched, with a life of service to those suffering, going to translate and organize relief efforts gave his life to others. I know he's soon here back from a year or so and surgeries in Peru-can't wait to see him. His Cajon, unlike the donated one from D.W. Drums has no snare inside, it looks like, well, a drawer. And he has used it across the world to alleviate the times of sitting in disasters trying to piece life back together. That fits the cajon.
Then we went outside to celebrate dance and music as well as a Fashion Show highlighting regions of Mexico and traditional dress from the area.
Mrs. Sanchez of Mesa is highly involved with the Migrant Program led in our county by Mr. Joe Mendoza ( I'm coaching a speech team this year during the breaking giving 20 hours, somehow, to preparation for the May Speech and Debate Event in Ventura). This presentation of styles sponsored through Migrant efforts.
Guanujuato in Mexico she is telling us, is a state with strawberries so the square cut neckline and the red skirt with green overlay is designed to suggest those berries.
Pretty berry listeners as well.....In Aguascalientes this gorgeous costume highlights the beauty of a past I thought she referenced Colonial past....
For playing Danny earned a Cajon. Our good friend Machucho from Peru is a cajon player so it has long been a part of our family life. He is just returning from cancer in Peru, losing our dear friend his mom Lucia Bonilla last year. Machucho taught us well the history of the instrument, how it arose out of suppression. My husband talked a good bit to the audience about the freedom aspects in music, the ways that native peoples have expressed their lives and cultures in music, the connections it makes to who we are.
It was a very inspirational part of the festival.
By the way, Machucho has done workshops for the kids at Mesa Union in percussion , on cajon, and he has worked for over twenty years prior to this cancer in the Red Cross. He went to every American and world disaster I ever heard of giving up jobs and making a difference with his life/efforts though largely then living as close to poverty as one can. He was ruined in the 911 time in New York health wise with many, many others where his lungs and system were fried. Funny, Red Cross forgot about him then providing no, absolutely no follow up care to him to help him. My husband trying to get him this found a closed door. Machucho with music, with hands outstretched, with a life of service to those suffering, going to translate and organize relief efforts gave his life to others. I know he's soon here back from a year or so and surgeries in Peru-can't wait to see him. His Cajon, unlike the donated one from D.W. Drums has no snare inside, it looks like, well, a drawer. And he has used it across the world to alleviate the times of sitting in disasters trying to piece life back together. That fits the cajon.
Then we went outside to celebrate dance and music as well as a Fashion Show highlighting regions of Mexico and traditional dress from the area.
And then we learned of Zacatecas where many I know have come from...
I shouldn't say this but these girls were all so poised and gave lovely presentations of the styles, areas. Isn't she beautiful?
Next came a group near and dear to my heart. Mr. Javier Gomez for FREE trains interested studets in music and cultural dance. He donates this to the children and he comes out with the dancers and musicians, singers to show the traditions of Mexico. To showcase these talented kids. I know several students involved and it has enhanced their lives. I could take thousands of photo's of this group. They are so inspiring. They are called Inlakech. They are so awesome I can't say enough, please check out their fantastic website.
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|  Next came a totally impressive Hueneme High School Folklorico and Mariachi. Hueneme High near and dear to coming over with dear friend Oscar Hernandez the Assistant Principal who, eventually sang for us. Wow! They were so polished it was amazing.   To me these dancers were butterflies...       Beautiful. As far as I am concerned these were masterpiece photos, the sun hitting the white.      Our twin babies...Oscar's babies..  Daiko Drums    Read more here about the drums and Oxnard group. And as darkness fell the rock group No 1 U No, played all the ....  Thanks to all involved. | |
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