Mira Costa Music Department hosts Grammy Signature Schools concer

The Mira Costa Music Program performed its Grammy Signature Schools Concert on May 31 at the Costa auditorium.

The Grammy Foundation presented the 2014 Grammy Signature Schools Gold Award to the Mira Costa High School Music Program. This award placed Costa as one of the top three Public High School Music Programs in the Nation.

“I think that any time one receives an honor, or a recognition, or an award for something as big as this was, it’s ideal to share that with the community,” choir director Michael Hayden said.

Earlier in the year, the the Grammy recognition was announced,but the official presentation of the award to Mira Costa by the Grammy Foundation was presented at this concert.

“It was a great honor for me to represent Orchestra as well as the musical student body and receive the award from the Grammy Foundation,” senior Kirk La said. “Words cannot describe how exhilarating it was to know that we have worked so hard to finally be nationally recognized.”

The show began with the Symphony Orchestra, directed by Orchestra Director Peter Park, playing “Across the Stars” by John Williams and “Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2” by Franz Liszt. The Wind Ensemble performed “Dance Movements (Movements II, III, IV)” by Philip Sparke. After a 10 minute intermission, the Percussion Ensemble and the Jazz Band 1 came next. Lastly, The Vocal Ensemble performed “Tryptich Marial” by Cesar Geoffray, “Sanctus” by Darrell Church, and “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Freddie Mercury.

“The Grammy award is a huge honor, but it doesn’t change the way we do things,” orchestra director Peter Park said. “We tell our music students that this is just the beginning and a launching pad for setting the bar even higher in the coming years and help us work harder and achieve more than we even think we can now.”

According to Hayden, the program will continue pursuing their excellence and apply for the award year after year.

“The standard for the department is already set and we just happened to win this year and we’ll continue to seek the excellence that we have been seeking for the pasts years and keep applying for the award,” Hayden said. “We didn’t do anything different this year except be exceptional at what we do.”