An Event For The Ages In San Bruno!!

Article Source: San Bruno Park School District

An Event for the Ages in San Bruno!!

Retrospective with Opera Singer Kevin Thompson

Saturday evening’s Music in the Air concert showcasing San Bruno’s public school student musical talent provided a feast for the senses. With funding from San Bruno Community Foundation to San Bruno Education Foundation and Capuchino Alumni Association in the amount of $495,000 to support music education in San Bruno schools for students K-12th grade, the results of that investment couldn’t have been more clear as reflected in outstanding vocal and instrumental performances spanning classical to pop music. This was an event for the ages in San Bruno.

The level of accomplishment and talent in San Bruno Park School District and at Capuchino is something to behold. Students performed difficult solos and ensemble works too numerous to list here. Suffice to say the audience was delighted throughout. The concert culminated in an appearance by the Capuchino Marching Band in their new uniforms funded by the grant, sounding like days of old when they marched in national parades and events.

Presenting sponsors for the event were You Tube, Welch Family Foundation, Marshall Realty and Tanforan Shell Station. Welch Family Foundation has pledged $30,000 in matching funds to sustain the music education initiative.

Special guest artists for the performance included the local Clint Baker’s All-Stars jazz musicians and international opera singer, the acclaimed Kevin Thompson who had arrived that morning from a performance in New York. As much as the audience was in awe with the student performances, so also were they swept away with Mr. Thompson’s glorious bass voice, bouncing off the walls of the Samuel Johnson, Jr. Performing Arts Center at Capuchino.

Performing a solo of “Without a Song” – the message in the words underscoring the critical importance of keeping music in the air in San Bruno - Mr. Thompson also sang with the Capuchino Choir in an arrangement of the classic “I Believe”, laced with Bach-Gounod’s “Ave Maria”. Accompanied on the piano by accomplished music student Jonathan Cayaban, the student voices blending with Mr. Thompson’s glorious and deeply felt delivery of the music, left the audience spellbound.

ABOVE: Opera Singer Kevin Thompson

Earlier in the day, Mr. Thompson had rehearsed with the choir, providing a mini master class of sorts, which they will not soon forget. In a brief interview with Mr. Thompson in between rehearsal and the concert, it was clear he has a deep affinity for helping young people “…become the best they can be and to believe that dreams do come true”. “When one door closes, another opens when you acknowledge your dreams as being special gifts”, he commented.

As an African American growing up on the East Coast in an economically challenged neighborhood, he discovered his love for music at an early age attending church. By the time he was in high school he was playing piano and teaching choirs at three churches. Thinking he wanted to be a professional choral director, he auditioned for a local performing arts high school, Suitland Center for the Arts, receiving training that led him to the prestigious Julliard School in New York and San Francisco Opera’s Merola program. Mr. Thompson now sings all over the world.

ABOVE: Arianna Bunac, Parkside Intermediate

Commenting on his time spent with the Capuchino musicians, Mr. Thompson shared: “It gives me great pleasure and hope to inspire young people to be their best at whatever they do. Mr. Souza, the music director at Capuchino who leads not only the choir, but the marching band and orchestra – which is atypical at a high school having so much talent – is to be commended for being intuitive enough to allow his music students to find their own expression in performance by working as teams, depending on each other to make the best possible music together. My hour with them at rehearsal was especially rewarding because they were so open to finding the best sound for their collective performance that evening. I understand a similar approach to teaching music is fostered also at the middle school by those music teachers, which will ensure a continuum of strong musical training through high school in San Bruno.”

ABOVE: Opera Singer Kevin Thompson

Dr. Bryan Vander Lugt, volunteer parent and VP of San Bruno Education Foundation, who provided the leadership to organizing Music in the Air, shared an inspirational video telling the story of what music means to San Bruno and why we need to build on and sustain the original grant from San Bruno Community Foundation to ensure quality music education for all students in our public schools.

Mayor Rico Medina served as Master of Ceremonies with San Bruno Park Superintendent Dr. Stella Kemp and Capuchino Principal Jesse Boise offering their welcome. Samuel Johnson, Jr., for whom the Performing Arts Center at Capuchino is named, was in attendance with his family. The performance concluded with a roaring ovation for the students and their music teachers: Elyse Mahfouz and Ciana Whitfield (Parkside) and Scott Souza (Capuchino). Music in the Air was a proud moment for all involved and for our San Bruno community.

For information on how you can help contribute to sustaining music education in San Bruno’s public schools and help match the Welch Family Foundation pledge:

www.sanbrunoedfound.org/donate

The previous San Bruno Patch post of the event program can be read at:

https://patch.com/california/sanbruno/music-air-event-program-november-3-2018

The previous San Bruno Patch post on the Before the Event Practice can be read at:

https://patch.com/california/sanbruno/music-air-practice

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Robert Riechel

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Photo Credit: San Bruno CA Patch Archives

Source Credit: Superintendent Kemp - San Bruno CA Park School District

Web Site: http://sbpsd.k12.ca.us/

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