Intermediate Band Members and Director Lorena Candelaria on stage at the 2024 Winter Band Concert.  Photo by T.C. Brown

 

By T.C. Brown

The Oracle Conservatory Mammoth/San Manuel Winter Band Concert was held on Dec. 2, 2024, at the MSMUSD Auditorium. Band family members, Oracle Piano Society members and the local community joined together to listen to the musical sounds of the season. It was great to hear holiday music and more. The music has been missing from the auditorium stage in recent years.

Director Lorena Candelaria has been working with the children of the Beginning and Intermediate Bands as they learn to read music and play instruments. On Flute were Lucinda Delzer, Athena Amparano, and Alyze Coggins. Baritone is Cassadee Brown. On Clarinet were Layla Madrid, Arizona Axe, Alyssa Badillo, Jorden Doucette, Ellie Madrid, Ava Melton and Brooklyn Parham. On Trombone were Zaiden Bathrick, Leliana Garcia, Ivana Gonzalez, and Amelia Matthews. On Alto Saxophone were Logan Points and Xander Coggins. On Trumpet were Amy Emberton, Caleb Bathrick, Elena Driggers, Oscar Gomez, Frederick Malatt, Cassidy Marlow and Juan Smith. Percussion members were Jesse Espinoza, Josh Arbizo, Mason Bathrick, Kadie Cox, Douglas Rickaby and Easton Watson.

The talented groups played holiday favorites, rock anthems, band classics, movie scores and more to the delight of the audience. There were wonderful solo and duet performances as well. The hard work by the instructor, the students and those behind-the-scenes were apparent. Lorena Candelaria praised the students for their efforts. She expressed hope for a full-time music/band program at the school. Many of the Band members also marched in the San Manuel Homecoming Parade back in October.

This program was presented by the Oracle Piano Society and was made possible by a grant from the Ak-Chin Indian Community and from the generosity of individual donors like you. More information and tax credit contributions for this program can be found at https://www.oraclepianosociety.org