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Two Decades of Kids and Counting

By Sally Torbey

About this blog: About this blog: I have enjoyed parenting five children in Palo Alto for the past two decades and have opinions about everything to do with parenting kids (and dogs). The goal of my blog is to share the good times and discuss the ...  (More)

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A night to remember

Uploaded: Oct 3, 2016
This weekend the Performing Arts Center at Palo Alto High School was officially opened with A Gala Celebration of the Performing Arts, and it was a night to remember!

Over 300 students performed in a wonderful show featuring the Paly bands, orchestra, choirs and theatrical groups. The entire production was an absolute delight, an impressive display of talent and organizational prowess of all the students, teachers, volunteers and administrators involved, and a heartfelt and appreciated “thank you” to the community for its support of our schools and the performing arts.

We were reminded during the evening of the important role the performing arts play in so many students’ lives. Camaraderie and friendships develop through the uplifting and life-affirming experiences of singing, playing an instrument, and acting. Being part of a community working together to create something amazing is heady and inspiring.

There were countless wonderful moments of fun, laughter, and awe during the evening. Early on there was the band’s rousing rendition of the Paly fight song. The event concluded with the orchestra, choir and theatre students’ finale of Broadway favorites, including a ukulele-playing Rob Minkoff leading a sing-a-long medley of The Lion King. In between were performances by award-winning thespians, the jazz band, an improvisational comedy team, a capella groups, stand out soloists, and another celebrity guest, Alex Nee ‘09, whose talents many of us have been enjoying since his days at Jordan Middle School. The audience loved it all.

The new theatre is a remarkable venue, beautifully supporting and presenting the performances. During Eric Whitacre’s piece “Cloudburst", percussionists and singers were dispersed in the aisles around the theater. The voices came from everywhere and nowhere. The music flooded the theater, and we were immersed in the claps of thunder and pattering rain passing over us.

It was an unforgettable and moving evening of entertainment, entirely worth of the spectacular setting of the Performing Arts Center!
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Comments

Posted by Holly Ward, a resident of Leland Manor/Garland Drive,
on Oct 3, 2016 at 9:38 pm

I'm so glad you could come Sally. It was a wonderful evening. I'm going to make a sales pitch here: if anyone wants to put their name, or the name of a loved one, on a seat in the new Performing Arts Center, please go to www.palypab.com. We're raising funds to put the finishing touches on this state-of-the-art building. Because the building is so BIG, we need more of everything, like wireless mikes, and walkie talkies and music stands. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated.


Posted by Sally Torbey, a Palo Alto Online blogger,
on Oct 4, 2016 at 10:42 am

Sally Torbey is a registered user.

Hi Holly!
Thank you for your years-long efforts to make the theater as glorious as it is! It will serve our community for many years to come.


Posted by JK, a resident of another community,
on Oct 4, 2016 at 11:58 am

That performance sounds great! I wish I could have seen it!


Posted by LJ, a resident of another community,
on Oct 8, 2016 at 4:13 pm

Beautiful AND safe (unlike the smoking light board decades ago at my school.) The music they perform stays with them forever. I think familiar music is second only to fragrance in its ability to evoke emotions and memories.


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