LOS ALAMITOS, CA – After months of successful concerts, festivals, and performances, the Los Alamitos High School orchestra rounded out its season with the annual Candlelight Concert. The Candlelight Concert is different from their typical concerts in that students are given the opportunity to perform songs of their choice either by themselves or with a group of other performers. Additionally, the stage is always decorated with numerous candles in order to give the performance a soft and warm ambiance. This year’s Candlelight Concert took place on Friday, April 21 at McGaugh Elementary.

The highlight of the night was the diverse array of musical talent displayed by the orchestra students. Some students performed on piano while others performed on string instruments. One student even performed an original song on the bass. Students also performed a variety of pieces from the classical Sonata in E minor to the modern theme of “Howl’s Moving Castle.” Some performed in duets while others performed solos. Principal violin player Michael Yoon dueted Carmen Fantasy with his mother Jennifer Yoon, him playing violin and his mother playing piano.

This year Los Al students were joined by two guest performers, Jackie Kitts and Cole Perez.

Kitts is an experienced cellist and Los Al parent who has been working closely with the Los Al orchestra this year. She has performed in several famous halls and currently teaches cello and violin to private students in Los Alamitos.

Perez is a violist who coaches the Los Al orchestra. He has experience working with Skywalker Sound, Fantasy Studios, and Warner Brothers Studios. He has also performed with several different orchestras and taken masterclasses from members of esteemed quartets.

Each guest performer got a moment on stage with Los Al’s string orchestra. With Kitts, the orchestra performed Elegie in C minor Op. 24 by Gabriel Faure. With Perez, the orchestra performed Violin Concerto in A minor and the movie “Schindler’s List” by John Williams.

“I started right at the beginning of the school year with them, so it’s been really fun to progress with them all year long,” Kitts said. “They’re playing at a much higher level now than at the beginning of the year.”

The Candlelight Concert is the last orchestra-only performance of the year. Still, the orchestra has had a plentiful festival season, receiving superior, the highest rating, on all of their performances at every festival they played at.

“This year it’s a little bit more hectic compared to last year, but it’s still good, and we’ve been winning all our festivals,” orchestra freshman Aubrey Ahn said. “The environment is also a lot better.”

The final performance of the Los Al orchestra for the year will be at the annual orchestra and band concert on May 22 at 7 p.m. in the Los Al Performing Arts Center. Congratulations to the Los Al orchestra on their successful season and incredible Candlelight Concert!