Palisades-News-June-3-2015-

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Page 24 Palisades News June 3, 2015PaliHi Music ProgramWins Top AccoladesBy LAUREL BUSBYStaff WriterPhotos by Mark GalassoOver the past eight years, PalisadesCharter High School’s band programhas become something tocelebrate.From a 17-student marching band whenband director Arwen Hernandez took overin February 2008, the program has swelled toan 84-student band in the upcoming schoolyear, and this school year, the marchers finishedfirst in division 3A of the SouthernCalifornia School Band and Orchestra Association.In addition, the school now offers acolor guard, a women’s chorus, a drum line,a wind ensemble and a concert band—allof which have placed well in competitions.Hernandez is the driving force behindthis success, but for her the most essentialaspect of the music department is that itprovides a welcoming place for experiencedplayers as well as kids who have neverplayed an instrument.“I want to give them a place to call homewithin the high school,” said Hernandez,who grew up playing French horn in theYucaipa High School marching band. “Theyspend a lot of time here. They’re very closeto each other. They know each other’s parents.They’re really a family. It’s very importantto foster that sense of family here.”Next year, she will have a staff of 10, includingballet instructor Kimberly Croninfrom Fancy Feet Dance Studio. Cronin’s assistancewas one facet of the band’s triumphin the 3A division finals, where it performedpieces from the ballet Billy the Kid.“She has been a delightful addition to theband,” said Hernandez, who plans to takethe marching band to the national competitionin Dayton, Ohio, for the first timenext year to perform Leonard Bernstein’sMass. “You could really see the differencein the way they moved this year.”Other facets of the program have alsoshowed strongly this year. The color guardArwen Hernandezplaced second in its division. The concertband and wind ensemble both received thehighest ranking—superior—for both performanceand sight reading at May’s regionalfestival of the Southern CaliforniaSchool Band and Orchestra Association. InApril, the drum line finished ninth placeout of 56 entrants at the Southern CaliforniaPercussion Alliance.For the drum-line performance, “We hadlots of wind players learning percussion forthe first time with a very challenging show,”said Hernandez, who marched in her highschool’s drum and bugle corps and laterworked on stage in London’s West End inthe original cast of Blast!—a drum corpsstage show. “They did a great job—a believable,deep job for such a young group.”PaliHi’s percussion director, JeremyMiller, wrote the show based on a DylanThomas poem featuring the beast, madmanand angel, while visual instructor anddesigner Sean McDermott did the piece’svisual design. The kids portrayed the piecenot only with music and movement, butalso on their faces since drum-line performances,featuring a small troupe aboutone-quarter the size of a marching band,Members of the color guard include (left to right) Mikkah Del Prado, Angie Gonzalez,Allison Wyant and Shenoa Butler.Five PaliHi drum-line members (top to bottom): Trebor Meseroll, Ray Pineda, TomomiUruma, John Doland and Sarah Bonder.typically occur indoors and more intimatethan marching band shows.A judge’s commentary said, “They weren’tacting; they were performing.” Hernandezadded, “It wasn’t high school kids are supposedto be smiling now. They really werefeeling what they were trying to portray.”Many of the students are extremelydedicated to the band program, which hastaken more than 100 field trips over theschool year. Forty-two students arrive aboutan hour before first period starts to participatein the wind ensemble. Most of theseplayers also take band in 6th period, and aportion also join drum line during 7th period.The wind ensemble is by audition only,but the other portions of the program areopen to any interested students.“The participants in marching band areextremely enthusiastic,” said Hernandez,adding that the more seasoned playersmentor the new players. “They spend a lotof time with us to hone their abilities.Everyone in band performs in every show.We have no bench.”The band and color guard will performin the Fourth of July parade and at theevening concert.UCLA Memory Training OfferedVacation BibleSchool Will BeHeld June 15-19The Palisades Lutheran Church will holdVacation Bible School from 9 a.m. to noon,from June 15-19 at the church, 15905 SunsetBlvd. Classes are available for preschoolstudents through sixth grade. The sessionis open for all residents; one does not haveto be a member to attend. Please registerat plc.cc or call (310) 459-2358.AUCLA Memory Training Class foradults 50 and older will be offeredfrom 5 to 6:30 p.m., every Wednesdayin June, at the Pacific Palisades Wom -an’s Club.Developed by the faculty at UCLA, theclass provides practical strategies and exercisesto help one understand his/her ownlearning style; develop new methods to retainand recall information; and improveone’s ability to put names with faces and recalllists without writing everything down.Trivia and “brain games” exercise shortmemory,but this class will offer exercises toimprove long-term memory. The class is offeredthrough a grant from the L.A. Departmentof Aging and is sponsored by the JewishFamily Service of L.A. Call: (310) 454-9012.
June 3, 2015 Palisades News Page 25PaliHi’s Johnson to Assist in National TrialsPalisades High School girls basketballcoach Torino Johnson was selectedas one of four high schoolcoaches from across the nation to assist inthe 2015 USA Basketball Woman’s U16National Team Trials at Colorado SpringsMay 21-25.More than 158 basketball players foughtfor a spot on a team that will play in theFIBA Americas U16 Championship fromJune 24-28 in Puebla, Mexico where theUSA will vie for a fourth-consecutive U16gold medal, along with a berth into the2016 FIBA U17 World Championship.The selection was made by the USA BasketballWomen’s Development NationalTeam Committee. The lead clinician isWashington University head women’s basketballcoach Nancy Fahey. In addition toJohnson, the other three high school coach -es chosen were Kelly Carruthers (JamesBowie High School, Texas), Angie Hembree(Norcross High School, Georgia) andKelly Sopak (Miramonte High School).“The four court coaches will be invaluablein making sure that all of these playersget some individual instruction throughoutthe trials,” USA Basketball Women’sNational Team Director Carol Callanwrote in a May 18 press release.Johnson has been Palihi’s coach for eightyears and has a 154-104 record. In an earlierinterview with the Palisades News, Johnsonsaid, “I never schedule bad teams—thereare no cream puff games.” The Dolphinslost (99-73) in the opening round of theState playoffs to Mater Dei, the numberoneranked team in the nation. Johnsonhas twice been named the Los AngelesCoach of the year.In a statement released by USA Basketball,Johnson a graduate of Manual ArtsHigh School and USC (2005) said, “Becominga USA basketball coach is the realizationof a dream I had after being in spiredby skill, effort, and camaraderie of theDream Team. To see such fierce competitorscome together for our country gaveme a different perspective of the meaningof basketball.“Today, I remain inspired to mentoryoung adults to not only teach them basketballskills, but to also help them understandthe ways in which basketball can helpthem become productive adults,” Johnsonsaid. “I am excited to have the opportunityto learn from my peers, while also coachingyoung athletes to represent America.I am humbled by this duty that has beenbestowed upon me and look forward tocontributing towards the improvement ofthese student athletes.”Palisades High School girls basketball coach Torino Johnson was chosen as one of fourhigh school coaches to assist in the U16 National Team Trials. Photo: Bart BartholomewJUST REDUCED!GRACIOUSHIGHLANDS ESTATE16678 Via la CostaPacific PalisadesSited on an approx one half acre lot withinthe exclusive guard gated Enclave, this5bd/7.5ba Mediterranean estate boasts exceptional180 degree ocn & mtn vus. Thestunning master suite enjoys ocn vus, privbalc, his & hers baths & 2 walk-in closets. 3car garage. Membership in Summit Club.www.EnclaveEstate.comOFFERED AT $6,250,000UNOBSTRUCTEDOCEAN VIEWS!17712 Revello DrivePacific PalisadesCommanding panoramic Palos Verdes toPoint Dume ocean views from this romantic4 bedroom + 3 bath two-story Castellammarebeach home. Enormous windows on eachlevel provide great light & vus. Unique opportunityproviding 2 separate lots with acombined lot size of approx. 7,420 SF.www.17712Revel.o.comOFFERED AT $2,585,000BUILD YOUR DREAMHOME HERE1410 El Bosque CourtPacific PalisadesOver 1/3 of an acre (per assessor) on a quietcul-de-sac in the Palisades Highlands. Plansfor 5 bedroom and 5 ½ bathroom Mediterraneanin 5,631 SF with subterranean level,pool & spa. Membership in the PalisadesHills Recreation Center with pool and tenniscourts.OFFERED AT $1,850,000Dan UrbachPalisadian and Realtorsince 1992.BRE #01147391Call Dan Directly at: 310.230.3757Info@DanUrbach.com • www.ExclusiveRealtor.com881 Alma Real Drive, Suite 100, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272S PECIALIZING I N PACIFIC PALISADES, MALIBU, SANTA M ONICA
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