High School Musicians Shine at Pittsford Park

Playing everything from John Philip Sousa to Coldplay, musicians wowed an outdoor audience Sunday at Prelude in the Park, kicking off the city's summer concert series.

It was a picturesque afternoon at , and many crowd members took the opportunity to enjoy a family picnic.

The fourth annual event is one of the largest fundraisers for the high school's instrumental music and pageantry program.

Performances by the school's string orchestra, jazz band, color guard, percussion ensemble, symphonic band and wind ensemble featured popular, recognizable tunes, such as the Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby."

In addition, the event had arts and crafts, face-painting, games and food.

The announcement that Islands restaurant planned to donate proceeds from the event to the music and pageantry program brought a smile to the face of Maria Roman, who conceived the concert fundraiser four years ago.

"We were at a symphony concert and I thought: 'Our kids could do this,'" she said.

She and her husband, Dino Roman, president of the program's booster club, said the event is a boon for the musicians and pageantry performers as well as the community.

"They get to perform for more than parents, and they're not competing," Maria Roman said. "It's great exposure for the program."

The event is especially poignant for the band and color guard seniors, El Toro High Principal Allan Mucerino said.

"They only have 23 days left," he said. "It's kind of their swan song, and an opportunity for the kids to be together."