Hercules Students in All-District Music Festival

On Thursday, Hercules will send students from its elementary, middle and high schools to the annual All District Music Festival at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium. Performances start at 7:30 p.m.

The festival is an opportunity for West Contra Costa schools to send their top musicians to learn, rehearse, and perform with one another in groups that include an advanced high school orchestra, an advanced high school band, an advanced middle school orchestra and a high school choir. 

Each group will perform two numbers. Hercules is one of the few schools in the West Contra Costa Unified School District to send participants in all three school levels.

“This is a great way of showing families and communities, politicians and whoever what our district is doing,” said Sharon Calonico, a Hercules Middle High School teacher who will direct the advanced middle school and advanced high school orchestras. “It’s a positive experience to let people know we’re still here.”

Hercules will be one of only a few schools to have elementary school students perform. The school district cut its funding of elementary school music programs two years ago.

Locally, Lupine Hills, Hannah Ranch and Ohlone elementary schools have been able to continue their music programs through funds provided by the City of Hercules. The lower school band will play Mark Williams’ “Cardiff Castle” at the festival, while the orchestra will play Beethoven’s "Ode to Joy.”

“It will be a challenge for some of our fourth graders because traditionally this is an honors concert,” said Jane Magid, who teaches music at all three Hercules elementary schools. “At regular regional concerts we let everyone do their best, but for this one students must have learned their part and auditioned to do it.”

The elementary school students' participation is particularly significant since budget constraints kept students from performing in last year’s festival. The lack of funding will still affect this year’s turnout, as several schools, including Kennedy, Richmond High, and De Anza High school, will not be represented.

An active booster club, however, has ensured their attendance of Hercules’ middle and high school students in this and several other events throughout the school year.

“We currently have little funding,” Calonico said. “Everything comes from the parents. They’ve been incredible and worked so hard.”

The festival will be hosted by Michael Morgan, conductor of the Oakland East Bay Symphony. Traditionally, the host ends the evening by conducting the honor band in a march, allowing some students the opportunity to rehearse and perform with a professional conductor.

Selected members of the Hercules Middle High School band, orchestra, and choir will also perform in the school’s spring musical in early April.