Performing and Visual Arts

Acalanes Choir Chapel Concert
Please join us for an evening of choral music performed in the beautiful St. Mary’s Chapel on Wednesday, Mar 26 at 7:30pm. We hope to see you there!
 

Accept It…Or Not: The 2024 The Acalanes DramaDons Short Plays Festival
Come see eight short plays written and directed by The DramaDons themselves on
Thursday, Mar 27 and Friday, Mar 28 at 7pm in the AHS Little Theatre. Admission is free. Donations accepted at the door.



Please join us at the Acalanes Symphony Orchestra Chicago “Send-Off” Concert on Mar 28 at 5pm in the AHS PAC. The Symphony Orchestra will travel over spring break to perform in the 2025 Chicago International Music Festival! Admission is free.
 

The SpongeBob Musical! Apr 24-26, 7pm & Apr 27, 2pm in the AHS PAC
When Bikini Bottom faces disaster, SpongeBob and friends must band together to save their home—through friendship, courage, and epic songs! A must-see for all ages! Tickets on sale NOW at ahsperformingarts.org

Congratulations to the Wind Ensemble and Orchestra for their lovely performances at the Sonoma Wind Band and Orchestra Invitational!
 
Kudos also to the Acalanes String Quartet (Maor Ziskind, Lauren Anderson, Miela Hsu and Nathan Feng) which received a superior rating at the CMEA Solo and Ensemble festival at San Jose State University.

Announcing the Acalanes Performing Arts Boosters 2024-25 Senior Scholarship!
Seniors currently enrolled in an Acalanes performing arts class (Choral, Drama or Instrumental) are eligible to apply for this $1,000 scholarship. Additional requirements are:

• Must have been enrolled in an Acalanes performing arts class for two or more years
• Must have a minimum 3.0 GPA
• Must have an intent to major or minor in a performing arts program (e.g., Theatre Tech, Drama, Musicology, Music Education, Performance, Composition, etc.) in a community college, 4-year college, university or performing arts school or conservatory.

Download the application here. They are due Monday, Mar 24.


Acalanes Choir Chapel Concert
Please join us for an evening of choral music performed in the beautiful St. Mary’s Chapel on Wednesday, Mar 26 at 7:30pm. We hope to see you there!
 

Accept It…Or Not: The 2024 The Acalanes DramaDons Short Plays Festival
Come see eight short plays written and directed by The DramaDons themselves on
Thursday, Mar 27 and Friday, Mar 28 at 7pm in the AHS Little Theatre. Admission is free. Donations accepted at the door.
 

The SpongeBob Musical! Apr 24-26, 7pm & Apr 27, 2pm in the AHS PAC
When Bikini Bottom faces disaster, SpongeBob and friends must band together to save their home—through friendship, courage, and epic songs! A must-see for all ages! Tickets on sale NOW at ahsperformingarts.org

Announcing the Acalanes Performing Arts Boosters 2024-25 Senior Scholarship!
Seniors currently enrolled in an Acalanes performing arts class (Choral, Drama or Instrumental) are eligible to apply for this $1,000 scholarship. Additional requirements are:

• Must have been enrolled in an Acalanes performing arts class for two or more years
• Must have a minimum 3.0 GPA
• Must have an intent to major or minor in a performing arts program (e.g., Theatre Tech, Drama, Musicology, Music Education, Performance, Composition, etc.) in a community college, 4-year college, university or performing arts school or conservatory.

Download the application here. They are due Monday, Mar 24.

Announcing the Acalanes Performing Arts Boosters 2024-25 Senior Scholarship!
Seniors currently enrolled in an Acalanes performing arts class (Choral, Drama or Instrumental) are eligible to apply for this $1,000 scholarship. Additional requirements are:

• Must have been enrolled in an Acalanes performing arts class for two or more years
• Must have a minimum 3.0 GPA
• Must have an intent to major or minor in a performing arts program (e.g., Theatre Tech, Drama, Musicology, Music Education, Performance, Composition, etc.) in a community college, 4-year college, university or performing arts school or conservatory.

Download the application at AHSPerformingArts.org. Applications are due Monday Mar 24.

The busy spring music festival season is underway and Acalanes Performing Arts Boosters is thrilled to have several recent Instrumental Music and Choir accomplishments to report.
 
Congratulations are in order for the Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble. The Orchestra earned Unanimous Superior ratings at the Homestead Orchestra Festival in front of a very tough judging panel. The Jazz Ensemble also earned Unanimous Superior ratings and took 3rd place in their division at the Campana Jazz Festival and 2nd place at the Folsom Jazz Festival. A Choral vocal ensemble also attended Folsom and soloists Kayla Medeiros and Bee Reinsberg received special recognition.
 
Additionally, Acalanes was represented in the 2025 California All-State Jazz Band by Nathan Joseph who was a featured soloist. Last but not least, congratulations to the 16 Instrumental Dons who represented Acalanes in the 2025 County Honor Band.
 
We are very proud of the students’ dedicated teamwork and commitment to excellence!
 
Rehearsals for the Spring Musical, SpongeBob Squarepants, are underway and you will not want to miss this show, so save these dates! Apr 23-26 in the Performing Arts Center.

Lafayette Schools Band/Orchestra Concerts – Jan 27-29, 7pm at Stanley Middle School
Acalanes Instrumental Music ensembles will be performing with Lafayette elementary and middle school students in the Stanley gym on the following days:

• Jan 27 – Acalanes HS Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble
• Jan 28 – Acalanes HS Wind Ensemble
• Jan 29 – Acalanes HS Orchestra

All are welcome to attend and enjoy the musical celebration!

Lafayette Schools Choral Concert – Jan 23, 7pm at Stanley Middle School
The Acalanes Choir is excited to perform at the Lafayette Schools Choral Concert. Come enjoy vocal music performances by Lafayette students of all ages.
 
Folsom Jazz Festival – Jan 25, Folsom High School
The top-ranked Jazz Combos and Jazz Ensemble (1st & 2nd place, respectively, in 2024!) will represent Acalanes at this premier Jazz Festival. Let’s cheer on our musical Dons as they compete in this ranked festival.
 
Lafayette Schools Band/Orchestra Concerts – Jan 27-29, 7pm at Stanley Middle School
Acalanes Instrumental Music ensembles will be performing with Lafayette elementary and middle school students in the Stanley gym on the following days:

• Jan 27 – Acalanes HS Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble
• Jan 28 – Acalanes HS Wind Ensemble
• Jan 29 – Acalanes HS Orchestra

All are welcome to attend and enjoy the musical celebration!

Lafayette Schools Choral Concert – Jan 23, 7pm at Stanley Middle School
The Acalanes Choir is excited to perform at the Lafayette Schools Choral Concert. Come enjoy vocal music performances by Lafayette students of all ages.

Acalanes Performing Arts Boosters would like to recognize the 16 Acalanes musicians who were selected for the prestigious Contra Costa County Honor Band. Acalanes Instrumental Music Dons made a record showing this year and we look forward to their concert in February!

Koto Watanabe, Flute*
Serina Eun, Clarinet*
Monique Khouw, Clarinet*
Noah Frankel, Clarinet
Claire George, Clarinet
Melina Galacatos, Bass Clarinet*
Emme Young, Bass Clarinet
Aya Watanabe, Bassoon
Jonathan Judson, Tenor Saxophone
Bennett George, Trumpet
Emerson Boudreau, Horn
Harrison Mrachek, Horn
Emmett Brummel, Trombone*
Leah Dong, Tuba
Jake Rennie, Percussion
Naoto Watanabe, Percussion
Asterisk indicates 1st Chair – Principal

Choral Winter Concert
Please join us in celebrating the season at the Acalanes Choir Winter Concert  featuring the Harmonix, Octet and more!
When: Thursday, Dec 12, 7pm
Where: AHS Performing Arts Center


 






Acalanes Performing Arts Boosters would like to give a big shout out to the Acalanes musicians who were selected for the California All State Jazz Band and California Honor Orchestra. The All State review panel selects only one jazz piano player from the entire state and APAB is very proud of Nathan Joseph for his accomplishment. Nathan is a talented multi-instrumentalist and will perform with the All State Jazz Band in Sacramento in January. Props also go to violist Miela Hsu and cellist Nathan Feng for earning seats in the California Honor Orchestra and for representing the Acalanes Union High School District at a performance in Santa Monica next month.