Milpitas High School string quartet joins touring Beatles musical

When the touring show “In My Life - A Musical Theatre Tribute to the Beatles” comes to the Campbell Heritage Theatre on October 20, be on the lookout for two quartets -- not just one.

The Milpitas High School string quartet has the privilege of joining the professional actors on stage to add an element of orchestral texture to the evening.

Here’s the rundown:

The show: “In My Life” is the musical retelling of the Beatles story through the eyes of manager Brian Epstein and featuring the live music of renowned tribute band Abbey Road. The band features Chris Paul Overall (“Paul”), Nathaniel Bott (“John”), Jesse Wilder (“George”) and Axel Clarke (“Ringo”). Brian Epstein is played by Murphy Martin. The production includes multimedia, period costumes and vintage instruments. It has toured for years, with a critic for the Orange County Register at one point declaring, “If you see one tribute show, see this one --smart and loads of fun.” The show is widely considered by industry insiders to be the most unique Beatles show in decades.

The string quartet: Milpitas High School senior Ariel Chen, juniors Martin Lopez, Benjamin Youn and sophomore Kinbert Chou will join the band for the songs “Eleanor Rigby,” “Yesterday,” “A Day in the Life,” “Hello Goodbye,” and “Hey Jude.” In a special touch, “Yesterday” is played as a scene in which the Paul McCartney character plays the song for the first time for Beatles producer George Martin, with the songwriter explaining that he envisioned a string-quartet accompaniment.

How the “Beatles” connection was started: Last year, the producers of “In My Life” approached Milpitas High School Director of Orchestras Christopher Kaldy and invited the school’s quartet to perform with the show which was playing in San Jose.

“We look for talented ensembles who can hold their own with a rock band in front of an audience,” said “In My Life” producer, Andy Nagle. “Milpitas High School’s quartet performed beautifully in San Jose and we asked them to perform at this year’s show in Campbell.”

The show commonly uses a local quartet to augment the production while on tour.

“It was amazing to be able to perform with professional musicians in front of a large crowd,” said Chou, who performed with the Milpitas High string quartet last year with the “In My Life” show. “I look forward to doing it again.”

Milpitas High School’s other musical endeavors:

Milpitas High School’s music department consists of a 140 member marching band, a 60 member pep band, a 60 piece string orchestra, two concert bands, percussion ensembles, and a jazz band. These instrumental ensembles have been under the direction of Milpitas High Alumn, Christopher Kaldy, since the 1998. Recent additions to the Milpitas High School Music Department include Assistant Directors Emily Moore and Joe Santomieri.

The details: “In My Life - A Musical Theatre Tribute to the Beatles” performs Monday, October 20 at 7:30 pm at the Campbell Heritage Theatre. Tickets are $35 - $45 and may be purchased online at http://www.heritagetheatre.org, by phone at (408) 866-2700, by fax at (408) 866-2730, by mail or in person at the box office. The box office hours are Tuesday - Thursday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, Friday from 9:00 am - 5:30 pm and Saturday from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. The Heritage Theatre is located at Campbell Community Center at 1 W. Campbell Avenue Campbell 95008. There is ample free parking. The show is appropriate for all ages.

And here is some additional information about the Milpitas High quartet:

Kinbert Chou performed with the “In My Life” show last year in San Jose. The sophomore has been playing the cello for 2 1/2 years and has played the piano for nine years. In addition to performing with his school’s orchestra, he is a member of the San Jose Youth Symphony.

“It is a good experience to work with other musicians and come together to make good music,” said Chou. “I can’t get that experience anywhere else.”

He is a member of several school service clubs, including Key Club, Life and DECA.

Martin Lopez has been playing the violin for seven years and also plays piano. The junior runs cross country for Milpitas High and is a member of Interact, a service club. He aspires to attend the University of California at Berkeley, major in physics and play with the university’s orchestra.

“I like the way the violin sounds,” said Lopez. “It helps me with my feelings.”

Ariel Chen has been playing the violin since the 4th grade. “I love how the violin sounds and how music comes together with an orchestra,” said Chen.

The senior hopes to attend the University of California, Davis in the fall, major in computer science and perform with the school’s orchestra.

In addition to playing the viola for the Milpitas High Orchestra, Benjamin Yaun plays the piano. “I like the middle tone of the viola,” said the junior. “I enjoy how music meshes together when playing with an orchestra.”

Yaun is a member of his school’s martial arts club and enjoys practicing Kendo. He plans to attend college after graduation.

And here is some additional information about “In My Life”:

“In My Life: A Musical Theatre Tribute to the Beatles” is the award winning, smash hit musical biography of the Beatles as seen through the eyes of their manager Brian Epstein and featuring the live music of renowned tribute band Abbey Road. This family friendly musical tale is widely considered by industry insiders to be the most unique Beatles show in decades.

“The show delivers!” said the L.A. Times. “If you see one tribute show, see this one – smart and loads of fun,” said the O.C. Register. “This is the ticket for you,” said the Idaho Statesman. “The most original of all the shows on the Beatles,” San Diego Theatre Review.

More than just a Beatles tribute concert, “In My Life” gives the audience a chance to “be there” at pivotal moments in the extraordinary career of the Beatles - from Liverpool’s legendary Cavern Club, to the Ed Sullivan Show, Shea Stadium’s 50,000 + screaming fans and their final live performance on the rooftop of their Apple Corp offices. With manager Brian Epstein serving as Narrator, “In My Life” allows the audience to get a glimpse inside the world of the Beatles from their point of view, as well as hear some of the greatest songs ever written.

“In My Life” takes the audience back to February 1964, when Americans saw the Beatles for the first time on the Ed Sullivan Show, playing I Want to Hold Your Hand. Progressing through their various musical stages, the audience re-experiences the psychedelic era of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the creation of the haunting Yesterday and the raucous rock and roll of Revolution.