sharpen skills Students at music fest
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

Bands and orchestras, composed mostly of middle and high school students from throughout Southern California, performed for judges and took part in clinics to fine-tune their musical skills during the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association Festival at Moorpark High School last weekend.

Thirty-seven groups from 20 schools participated in the local event, said Mike Gangemi, who organizes the festival.

Gangemi is an assistant band director at Westlake High School and a former Moorpark High assistant bandleader.

"The purpose of event," he said, "is for concert bands and orchestras to perform in a festival setting and receive feedback from professionals on how they can improve their performance."

Cheryl Marvin, who leads the orchestra at Arroyo West Elementary in Moorpark, said itwasthefirsttime the school's string program has participated in the festival.

The young musicians, who have been playing for about three years, received positive responses from the judges, she said.

While the groups do not compete with each other, they must exhibit artistic and creative perception. Bands and orchestras are judged based on standards set forth by the association. Performers must be stylistically accurate and respond adequately to the conductor and fellow band members. They also must show discipline, Marvin said.

Marvin said she hopes that, in addition to helping young musicians improve their skills, the local festival will serve to remind parents that it's important for children to be involved in the arts.

Budget shortages will affect funding for art programs, so parents must be proactive to preserve them, she added.

"It comes down to parents to make sure these programs don't die," Marvin said.

When adults attend parentteacher association and school site council meetings, they can become involved with the decision-making process and create networks of people that can influence what is happening in Moorpark, she said.

"Everybody can sit back, watch it happen and complain, but if they go to meetings and voice their opinions to the administrations, it will help administration decide what to do," Marvin said.

School officials have tough decisions to make, so they need the support of the community to ensure children have a wellrounded education, she said.