The beauty of arts: Maria Carrillo’s Encore programs
The empty choir classroom (The Puma Prensa / Mia Landaverde)
By Mia Landaverde, Staff Writer
Here at Maria Carrillo High School, student life is booming with sports, clubs, academics, and extracurricular activities. Despite this, with such a large community, the Encore Programs are overlooked. Carrillo’s campus has such a diverse array of performing arts, from theatre all the way to band, and it’s time to let both incoming and current students know about these amazing programs.
One program Carrillo offers is choir, with a total of four classes and students from all grades. The two main choirs are treble and bass, two classes for students in skill level beginner to intermediate, which are open to all newcomers interested. From there, the doors open to the chamber singers and jazz choir, which are more advanced and sophisticated. On the surface, choir might seem to passerbys to be just the act of singing, but choir teacher Gail Bowers begs to differ. “I think it’s tradition,” Bowers said confidently. “It’s been going since the school started. It’s been a really strong program and it’s known all over the state of California as one of the top programs.”
Bowers loves the fact that she can be the reason students come to school, and an outlet for students overwhelmed by academics. According to her, you can feel like you’re part of a family without the pressure of singing alone. Choir is much like a team, where everyone gets to know each other as they practice within sectionals for upcoming concerts. There’s more of a connection between students and the program presents new opportunities for strong friendships to flourish.
Bowers loves how students grow in choir, from learning music to applying qualities like teamwork in their daily life. She appreciates how their confidence grows, and finds it rewarding to see all their hard work pay off once everyone begins to sing. She believes these are all things that make choir worth it. “There’s something about the lights, and the uniforms, and that curtain opening, and your audience cheering for you,” Bowers expressed. “The fact that again just singing and connecting our voices together and making harmonies together, there’s something really powerful about that.”
Another program is instrumental music, where students of all grades play an array of instruments within the multiple bands. Split between teachers Matthew Bringedahl and Matthew Bowker, they lead Carrillo’s instrumental music programs with compassion and dedication. Everyone has dabbled in one of the two instrumental music programs due to elementary requirements, however it’s much more meaningful here at Carrillo. “It’s a deeper connection to not just playing an instrument, but your emotions,” Bowker explained. “It’s the only activity you can do that activates your whole brain.”
In band, there are many opportunities to sit down and learn different everyday skills. Students have chances to perform new music and go on trips towards the end of the year. To Bowker, band and orchestra are opportunities to see students grow and continue their musical journeys outside of high school. “It’s a very inviting group,” Bowker said. “Everybody wants to be there and help each other grow.”
To Bowker, band and orchestra strengthen Carrillo’s community and can often bring a sense of pride. When the drum line plays at football games, or when all the bands perform at school concerts, it enhances the high school experience. “What makes Band worth it? The community,” Bowker said. “There’s more advantages than just playing an instrument.”
Last but not least, we have theatre and film. Taught by Denise Elia-Yen, Encore department chair, theatre is one of the best places for students to express themselves. “Theatre at Carrillo allows students to reawaken their creative curiosity in a safe environment,” Yen said. “The program supports students in learning confidence, not only on stage, but in other parts of their lives, and to better know themselves.”
To Yen, teaching theatre is her legacy. Learning from outstanding teachers and professors who learned from many of the greats, she feels a responsibility to share it with students at Carrillo. “Theatre class is the reason many of my students come to school in the first place,” Yen said. “This is what they look forward to most in their day. They can't wait to get into the shop, the tech booth, the dressing rooms, and onto the stage. They live for being together in what has become their second home.” Theatre is a place where students don’t have to shy away from their creativity or hide behind walls.
Not only can theatre serve as an outlet, but it also sets you apart from others when it comes to college and university. The skills developed go beyond grades. Theatre also offers a break in the day from outside stress, and Yen finds that to be the fun part of it. “My goal is to give students a wide range of experiences,” she explained. “They will be armed with transferable skills for any field.” Students are able to experience roles from ensemble to lead, productions from Shakespeare to Chicago, and even immersive theatre with the upcoming Haunted House.
As Encore department chair, Yen not only sees the impact theatre has on Carrillo, but the impact of all the Encore programs. “All Encore programs are making a positive and massive impact at Carrillo.” Yen described. Just last year, there were nearly 1,000 students registered in one of the Encore programs. Yen revealed that this was over half the school population expressing themselves creatively. She notices how students begin to enjoy a fuller sense of community, growing beyond what’s taught in class, as they are offered opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise experience elsewhere.
Through Encore programs and the wonderful teachers instilling lessons into each student, Carrillo has become a community where students can be whoever they want, whenever they want, without fear; Pumas are able to follow their passion, whether it is singing, playing an instrument or acting. As new students fill the campus and others begin to explore the means of expression, Carrillo hopes the Encore programs will continue on a path of immense growth.