Mission Bay music program’s schedule filled with concerts and trips

Mission Bay High’s award-winning Mambo Orchestra (above), one of Southern California's most exciting and diverse youth group ensembles, is traveling to San Francisco sobre Feb. 12-16 to perform, study, and collaborate with some of the Bay Area's top Latin jazz, salsa, and mambo musicians.

Comprised of 30 talented student musicians, el Mambo Orchestra specializes in the traditional and dance music of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Latin America, drawing inspiration from legends such as Tito Puente, Joe Arroyo, Eddie Palmieri, and Celia Cruz.

This vibrant student orchestra brings the rhythms of Afro-Latin jazz to life, making waves in the community and beyond. This marks the Mambo orchestra’s first trip to San Francisco and will offer the students a transformative educational experience through music.

“It is my goal to allow students to learn and perform with some of the best Latin Jazz musicians in the country,” dicho Jean-Paul Balmat, metrousic Director at Mission Bay High and former student of the program at the school. “We hope to tap into the wealth of knowledge available in San Francisco, inspiring our current students who, in return, will share the knowledge with their classmates and the San Diego music community.”

During this trip, the Mambo Orchestra will partner with the renowned Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble of San Francisco (LJYESF) in a series of workshops led by GRAMMY award-winning percussionist and bandleader Javier Cabanillas. These workshops will focus on four areas:

1.) Rhythm, exploring how Latin percussion rhythms connect with instruments like piano, bass and guitar;

2.) Horns, understanding how melodic phrasing interlaces with rhythmic patterns;

3.) Vocals, identifying call-and-response sections and navigating different parts of a song's form; and

4.) Creating the overall ensemble performance, focusing on the group's objectives and the importance of listening cohesively to each section.

The workshops will culminate in a collaborative finale performance at the Indigenous Peoples Cultural Arts Healing Center (IPCAHC) on Feb. 15 featuring a special piece showcasing their shared talent. Both groups will perform their repertoire and join together for a memorable finale.

Donations can be made en missionbaymusic.com/support. Supporters are also invited to attend the fundraiser concert on Feb. 27 at the Soledad Club in Pacific Beach. Tickets are available for $40 or $800 for a VIP table (includes eight tickets). The event runs from 6:30-9 p.m. and tickets can be purchased at missionbaymusic.com/events.

MERAKI CONCERT SERIES

bahía de la misión recientemente announceD the second season of the Meraki Concert Series, running from January through May and produced by students in the school’s Music Business Program. The Music Business Program is designed to give students experience in the business side of the music industry. The program is open to any student attending Mission Bay.

The Meraki Concert Series provides students with a unique work-study experience, offering real-world opportunities in the business end of the music industry. MBHS students will manage every detail of the event, from setup to breakdown, venue management, promotions, booking of artists, and securing sponsorships. The students are actively looking for sponsors to support the business program and live music in San Diego. More information can be found at missionbaymusic.com

In partnership with Meraki Event Space and Lounge and the San Diego Yokohama Sister City Society, the Meraki Concert Series will have a lineup of established and emerging jazz artists.

“Through the Meraki Concert Series, we are not just presenting music – we are creating an experience crafted by the incredible hard work of our students. This concert series reflects the dedication of Mission Bay's music program to inspire, entertain, and showcase the rich diversity in the jazz genre,” said Balmat. “We are so thankful to Meraki and the talented artists who are giving their time and talents to help make this possible.”

The spring jazz series features:

Feb. 20: Euphoria Brass Band.
March 20: Eric Wesling Quartet.
April 17: Holly Hofmann.
May 22: Peter Sprague and Leonard Patton.

Each concert will open with a performance by a Mission Bay High ensemble. Doors open for reservations-only dining at 6 p.m., with the headlining performances starting at 7:30 p.m. Meraki Event Space and Lounge is located at 1648 30th St.

Tickets cost $25 per person en merakiconcerts.com. Dining packages start at $70 and include admission, guaranteed seating, and a curated dinner experience that includes an appetizer and entrée. The menu will change for each concert and is designed to celebrate the season's finest ingredients.

Proceeds from ticket sales and dining will benefit the school’s nonprofit metrousic pagsrogram. For more information on sponsorships and the metrousic pagsrogram, visit missionbaymusic.com and @missionbaymusic on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and SoundCloud.