On Thursday, January 29, at around 4 pm, over 70 students in the Agoura High School Music program, along with teachers Mr. Hackett, Mr. Militello, Mr. Castellanos, and members of the Music Boosters Board, piled into 2 buses departing from campus on a journey to downtown Los Angeles. This group was in for a musical treat: they were on their way to experience the magic of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles’s world-renowned orchestra also known as the LA Phil.
The bus trip to downtown took just under 2 hours due to the busy Los Angeles rush hour traffic. The music program’s first stop at 6 pm was at Grand Central Market, a vibrant and bustling food hall located in the heart of the city. There, students, staff, and board members had to make the hardest decision of their day: what to get for dinner! The market boasted Mexican tacos, Chinese food, sandwiches, sushi, unique dessert vendors, and more. One of the most popular choices out of these options among the members of the music program was Villa’s Tacos, and for good reason. The restaurant, known for its blue-corn tacos, won the Michelin Bib Gourmand Award three years in a row (2023, 2024, and 2025).
At 7 pm, the music program reunited to board the buses once again. This time, they were finally on their way to watch the LA Phil. After a group photo in front of the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall and collecting their tickets, the Agoura Music program was divided and seated into the two wings of the concert hall, giving them a unique perspective of the audience, the orchestra, and the venue itself.
The concert began promptly at 8 pm. For many members of the music program, the night felt like a full circle moment as they watched Nicholas Kim, a clarinetist in the LA Phil and Agoura 2021 alumni, perform on stage. He and the rest of the orchestra were led by dynamic conductor Elim Chan, who directed the performance with elegance and power, and accompanied by Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha, a talented soprano whose majestic voice captivated the entire audience. The program for this performance was titled “Mahler, Bartók, & Ravel” and featured one piece per composer in the following order: “Le tombeau de Couperin” by Ravel, “Dance Suite” by Bartók, and “Symphony No. 4 in G major” by Mahler. These pieces featured calming woodwind melodies, strong brass elements, and eager percussion segments. The entire event, intermission included, lasted about 2 hours.
When the performance concluded at 10 pm, the Agoura High musicians left the concert hall feeling inspired and awed, but also sleepy and ready for bed, considering that it was still a school night! Fortunately, the ride home was only about 40 minutes long and buzzed with the sounds of laughter and chatter as students, staff, and board members recollected their favorite memories of the night. At 11 pm, after a long day of traveling, good eats, and great music, the Agoura High Music Program finally arrived back at school, ready for a good night’s sleep. For members of the Studio Jazz Band, however, this trip wasn’t the only musical trip of the year to look forward to. Just the day before, they found out that they had earned a spot at the prestigious Essentially Ellington Jazz Competition & Festival hosted in New York City in April! These exciting events go to show that being part of the music community at Agoura High School doesn’t just mean playing an instrument; it’s also about hard work, dedication, musical appreciation, and most importantly, having fun!
