Senior Recital 2023
Tuesday, May 23rd Performances
David Strope, Trumpet Duet
Minuetto
John Summers Cox
David would like to thank his parents, friends, and other family members for supporting him. He would also like to thank his teacher Tim Hall for teaching, supporting, and believing in him throughout his high school career. He plans to attend Chapman University for trumpet performance and electrical engineering.
Karson Padilla, Trumpet Duet
Minuetto
John Summers Cox
Karson would like to thank all his family, friends, and teacher Dr. Perez for inspiring his passion for music and supporting him through his journey. Karson plans to attend UCSB to study physics while continuing to pursue music on the side.
Reagan Hirchag, Bassoon Solo
Lied
Eugene Bozza
Reagan has been a part of wind ensemble for 4 years. She is so thankful for the opportunities she has been given through this program and her favorites memories are going to Segerstrom for festival. She will be attending Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama in the fall as a Law and Justice major. GO TIGERS. She also hopes to continue music throughout college. She would like to thank her family and friends for always supporting her and Mr. McElroy for pushing her to work hard and learning her name by her senior year.
Calvin Fu, Percussion
Wipeout
The Surfairs
Calvin would like to thank his parents for pushing him along his musical journey, and he would like to thank Mr. McElroy and his friends inside the orchestra for making every class fun. Even though the hours are long, Calvin’s favorite memories about the music program at San Juan Hills is the musicals. Calvin will likely be attending UCSB in the fall and is going to study physics. Even though he won’t be majoring in music, he is sure to continue is love for music all throughout college.
Adam Underdahl, Clarinet
Wipeout
The Surfairs
Adam wants to thank his family and friends for supporting him throughout high school. He plans on attending saddleback for 2 years and transfer to TCU. His favorite is recording songs at Disneyland with the full orchestra.
Nathan Garcia, Tuba Verve Nathan Garcia
Nathan would like to thank his parents for supporting him through high school, and would like to show an original piece. Verve was inspired by Nathan's struggles, and him overcoming them. His older brother also inspired him in writing and pursuing music. He plans on continuing to write music throughout college, where he'll study engineering.
Aeris Louge, Trumpet Verve Nathan Garcia
Aeris would like to express her gratitude to Mr. McElroy for his patience and determination over the past four years to ensure that everyone has fun and felt included. She would also like to thank the parent volunteers who supported the music program for as long as they have and assisted with the marching band, festival, Segerstrom, and concerts. She can't wait to put what she knows to use in her upcoming journey as a trumpet player and combat medic in the United States Army, starting on August 18, 2023. She needs to say thanks to our percussion leader Taylor for motivating her to audition. She will undoubtedly never forget these four years.
Megan Toal, Violin
Méditation from Thaïs Jules Massenet
Megan wants to thank her parents, friends, and fellow musicians for making the past four years of performing arts unforgettable. She isn’t set to continue orchestra after high school, but she is bringing her instrument with her to college and is open to the idea of joining a local community orchestra in the future. Music will always hold a special place in her heart, and she will never forget the amazing experiences she has had at SJHHS.
Daniel Salinas, Cello
Sonata for Solo Cello, Movement 3
Zoltán Kodály
Daniel has been playing the cello since seventh grade and has always been obsessed with classical music from day one. He would love to give his biggest gratitude towards Mr. Dean McElroy for being such amazing inspiration towards his success. Daniel plans to continue playing while studying to be a nurse.
Wednesday, May 24th Performances
Mandi Mui Partita no. 2 Sarabande J.S. Bach
Mandi has had an awesome time in the music program, playing in the chamber orchestra, pit orchestra, and marching band. She plans on studying mechanical engineering at Cal Poly SLO and hopefully joining the symphony orchestra or marching band. Her favorite memories are playing in Newsies and Legally Blonde. She is very thankful for the opportunity to be concertmistress at Segerstrom twice, and being able to learn flute and trombone. Mandi would like to thank her family, private teachers and coaches, sjh alumni, Mac, and her friends in the program for helping her though her musical journey.
Karina Huang
String Quartet in D minor ‘Death and the Maiden’
Franz Schubert
With Mandi Mui, Naomi Fung, Annalise Ahn
Karina has been a part of the instrumental music program for all four years—she’s played violin for four years in chamber orchestra and in five musicals. Her favorite memories include performing at Disneyland freshmen year and at Segerstrom freshmen and senior year. She would like to thank Mr. McElroy and all of her friends in the instrumental program who made these four years what they were. Karina’s future plans include studying Environmental Sciences and Policy at Duke University.
Naomi Fung
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini; Var. 18
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Naomi has been heavily involved the instrumental music program all four years of her high school career, playing viola in chamber orchestra, trombone in concert band and marching band, and piano in the musicals. She has too many favorite memories so probably ask her about them if you're curious. She would like to thank everyone for the lifelong friendships and all the memories made along the way :)
Azmeer Qureshi
Game Of Thrones Theme Ramin Djawadi
Azmeer is the Principal Bass player for our Chamber Orchestra. He is the youngest of 4 siblings that have been apart of our program over the past almost 13 years. In class he has always been so uplifting and energetic. With his quick-witted humor he has always made Chamber an enjoyable class to teach.
Raden Nelson Poem for Flute and Piano Charles Griffes
Raden would like to thank his friends and family for the continued support throughout his music career. He whole-heartedly appreciates every experience this music program has given him, from trips to Disneyland to performances at Segerstrom Concert Hall. He will be attending Saddleback in the fall to pursue his education in mechanical engineering. Simultaneously, he wishes to continue playing flute as a hobby with community orchestras wherever that may be. Lastly, Raden would like to thank Mr. McElroy and every student involved in the music program for giving him such an amazing high school experience.
Dutch Ponce Praeludium Und Allegro Fritz Kreisler
Dutch is extremely grateful to be a part of the chamber orchestra. While there were some tough moments throughout high school, thanks to the encouragement of his family he was able to push through and keep strengthening his musical ability. He will never forget how many great memories he had working with such a fantastic orchestra and such a passionate teacher playing pieces he could have never imagined to be playing during high school. Going forward, he cannot wait to join the South Coast Symphony this fall to continue in his music career and wishes the best for the other students in the chamber orchestra. Finally, he would like to thank Mr. McElroy who made every day in class a blast that he will never forget and he cannot wait for what will happen next in his music career.
Seniors Not Performing
Nick Green, Bass Clarinet - Nick Green has spent all four years of high school in band and wouldn’t trade it for anything else. He’s made many good friends through the program and plans to attend Wabash College in the fall. He would like to thank Zakk, Micheal, Thornton, Logan, and Zoe, as well as his Mom and Dad, for getting him through Marching Band Season and making his high school experience enjoyable.
Kiki Yamanura, Oboe - Kiki has been in the music program for all 4 years of her high school career taking part in the concert groups, Wind Ensemble and Full Orchestra, and the pit orchestra and marching band. Her favorite memory of the music program is getting to go to Disneyland with some of her closest friends in the music program and playing in the Disney studio. She will be going to IVC for the first year of her college career, then transfer to Chapman as a junior the following year majoring in Psychology and getting her Masters in Social Work. Kiki would like to thank her parents for always supporting her and being part of the music program, and Mr. McElroy for making the music program more and more special every year, bring new challenges and experiences every year.
Zakk Hendrix, Alto Saxophone - Zakk has really enjoyed these last four years of band. His favorite memories include going to Disneyland and being able to perform at Segerstrom twice with all of his friends. He’d like to thank his family for always supporting him in everything he did.
Ben Garcia, Cello - Ben would like to thank his family for believing in him and helping him improve his ability to play the cello by paying for private lessons. He will be going to Lakeland University to continue his football career as a punter. One of his favorite memories was eating a whole bowl of pasta that could feed 3 people before performing at Segerstrom.
Yaseen Aldawood, Clarinet
Amir Abedi, Cello
Laurence Alizadeh-Fakori, Violin
Logan Benvenuto, French Horn
James Branning, Violin
Ryan Cheng, Violin
Chloe Donges, Violin
Noah Fortes
Connor O’Farrill
Ruby Stanton
Matthew Swaim