Samohi students have played the right tune all year long, continuing to forge what has become a nationally recognized music program.
For the 22nd consecutive year, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) has been honored with the “Best Communities for Music Education” designation from the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation, given for the district’s “outstanding commitment to music education.” The district was just one of five districts out of 80 in Los Angeles County to gain the recognition.
“The award recognizes the outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who work together to ensure access to music learning for all students as part of the school curriculum,” SMMUSD Superintendent Dr. Antonio Shelton said of the honor. “We would not have received this recognition without the hard work and dedication of many people providing equity and access to all our students.”
Shelton also gave special thanks to the district’s Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator, Tom Whaley, for his work “to ensure our students receive a world-class education.”
“Every year for 22 consecutive years, our music teachers have stepped up and continued to deliver an outstanding music education for students,” Whaley said. “SMMUSD has received this award consecutively longer than any school district in California, and that is due to the commitment and hard work of all our educational partners, but especially our fantastic music teachers.”
A group known for its hard work is the Samohi Marching Band, which completed an exceptional competition season in the fall. Under the leadership of band director Kevin McKeown, the marching band participated in competitions in October and November, gaining accolades along the way.
In the 5A Division, the marching band placed first in the categories of band, color guard and percussion at the Simi Valley 54th Annual Band Spectacular, Cleveland High School All-Valley Band Tournament and William S. Hart Regiment 39th Rampage Tournament.
Further in November, the band placed first in those categories at the 10th Annual Duarte Field Tournament, along with winning the Music Effect Sweepstakes, Visual Effect Sweepstakes, Visual Performance Sweepstakes and Overall Band Tournament Sweepstakes. The next week, the band placed first in the category of band and second in the categories of color guard and percussion at the Savanna High School Field tournament, as well as achieving the Music Performance Sweepstakes, Music Effect Sweepstakes, Visual Effect Sweepstakes and Overall 4A/5A/6A Division Tournament Sweepstakes.
The band’s final competition saw the Vikings receive a silver medal and win the Music Effect Caption Sweepstakes at the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association 5A Division Championship Tournament.
“This was the most consistent group that I have taught at Samohi since 2012,” McKeown said. “Their weekly improvement led to a historic finish and has set a new standard for our program moving forward. I am also a proud parent of a senior in the band, Connor, so that makes this year even more special.”
The marching band was rewarded for their exceptional year with a new trailer, welcomed onto campus for the first time in March. The trailer, built by Oklahoma-based company Clubhouse Trailers, will serve as home base during band competitions and keep intact the more than $300,000 worth of equipment involved in each trek.
“It’s fit so that the equipment will be safely transported and not bashing around in there and (get) damaged, and so the kids were excited,” Whaley said. “Kids and the parents didn’t believe it until they actually saw that it was really here at Samohi … now that it’s here, the kids are super excited about the marching band season in the fall … this will serve kids for another 40 years.”
Another area where Samohi shined this year was in the orchestra, as 15 Samohi orchestra musicians were chosen to participate in the California Orchestra Directors Association Honors Orchestras concert in December. The students were selected through a blind audition in instruments like violin, string bass, viola and cello.
“Our student musicians have such passion and commitment to their music studies,” Samohi Principal Marae Cruce said. “We are very proud of our Samohi programs, our directors and these students who are very deserving of this tremendous honor.”
Orchestra honors were also given this year for the Samohi Theatre Pit Orchestra, which won the prestigious 2023 Jerry Herman Award for Best Orchestra in a high school musical. Nominated twice before, this is the orchestra’s first win against Los Angeles high school competition, selected for the Samohi Theater Department’s production of “The Drowsy Chaperone.”
“I’m very excited for the students in the orchestra,” Samohi Pit Orchestra Director Terry Sakow said. “They put in a lot of work to make sure the productions are successful. The success of the pit orchestra is the result of our great district music program. All orchestra members are able to perform the musical at a high level because of the training they receive from district music leaders.”
The Samohi jazz bands took part in a unique opportunity this year, a months-long mentorship from Grammy Award-winning jazz bass icon Stanley Clarke. In the fall, Clarke began a mentorship for Samohi and Santa Monica College students as part of BroadStage’s Artist in Residence program, culminating in concerts at Barnum Hall and the John Adams Middle School Performing Arts Center.
“In the recent past we have suffered the loss of many of our important cultural spaces and creators,” Clarke said. “This presents a crucial moment for our city and for the future of the arts in general … exposure to the arts at the highest levels is paramount to the spawning of the future of culture and the arts.”
The Samohi bands had a serenading sendoff for seniors in May, taking part in the band program’s annual “Pops” concert featuring highlights from movies, video games and popular music history. The band program’s successes in 2023-24 included a multitude of awards from voting bodies like the Southern California School Band & Orchestra Association and the California All-State Music Educators Conference, as well as the wind symphony’s trip to Seattle over spring break to participate in the WorldStrides Heritage Festival, winning a coveted Gold Rating.
