Instrumental Music

In a music season opener, Viewpoint’s Upper School Wind and Jazz ensemble took center stage at the Carlson Family Theater (CFT) for their first Concert of the school year on Tuesday, October 15. 

The show commenced with a dynamic performance by the Wind Ensemble/Pep Band, featuring “Elements (Air)” by Brian Balmages. Next, the Senior Conductors for Pep Band showcased their versatility with a series of popular pieces, ranging from “Funkytown” by Steve Greenberg, and “Hawaii Five-o” by Mark Stevens, to “Sir Duke” by Stevie Wonder, and “September” by “M. White, A. McKay, and A. Willis. They smoothly transitioned between genres with “Land of 1,000 Dances” by C. Kenner and A. Domino, “Life is a Highway” by Tom Cochrane, and a standout rendition of “Copacabana” by Barry Manilow, B. Sussman, and J. Feldman.

The student-run jazz combo “The Four and a Half”, consisting of Charlie Luborsky ’26 on bass, Thomas Hemmens ’26 on guitar, Max Zou ’26 on piano, Jasper Hughes ’27 on drumset and Jishnu Mukherjee ’26 on sax performed between the Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble performances. They did a fantastic job.

Closing the night, the Jazz Ensemble performed “Maiden Voyage” by Herbie Hancock, “Back Porch Swing” by Drew Zaremba, and “La Vida Es Un Carnaval” by Victor Daniel. It was great to hear some student soloists during the three jazz numbers.  

Just one week later on Tuesday, October 22, the Upper School Concert Choir, Voices Now, and Orchestra students offered a diverse musical journey that transcended generations and cultures.

Voices Now opened the show, delivering captivating performances of 1940s classic “Java Jive” by Ben Oakland and Milton Drake, a new arrangement of the Brazilian classic “Água De Beber” by Antonio Carlos Jobim, and the iconic “Somebody to Love” by Freddie Mercury. Following this electrifying set, the Concert Choir took the stage, singing “Loch Lomond” by Jonathan Quick, “Dream Ship” by Susan La Bar, and “Ripple” by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.

After a brief intermission, Upper School Orchestra members played three selections, including “Prelude from the Brook Green Suite” by Gustav Holst, “Lullaby” by William Hofeldt, and “Graveyard Shift” by Chris Thomas. For the finale, the Concert Choir and Orchestra united in harmony for “Gloria In Excelsis” by Antonio Vivaldi.

“Although these concerts were both early in the year, I am very proud of the hard work the Upper Schoolers did to pull these concerts together so quickly,” said Dr. Kristin Herkstroeter, Music Department Chair. “I look forward to a great musical year with the Upper School musicians.”

Immediately following both concerts, our performers and families gathered outside the theater for a reception with sweet treats and hot beverages, generously provided and served by our VSSA volunteers. 

For Nathan Danese ’25, this past summer marked a major milestone in his musical journey. Through Viewpoint’s Summer Experience Program, now known as CareerPoint, Danese interned at Los Olivos Recording Studios, where he had the opportunity to record one of his original songs, “Fallout,” and release it on several streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.

“My interest in actually partaking in music started during my sophomore year when I was cast in ‘Grease,’” Danese shared. “It was sort of a spur-of-the-moment decision. I didn’t know I could do it, and I didn’t know that I would have so much fun doing it.”

Encouraged by friends and experiences at Viewpoint, Danese began performing his original songs at events like Coffee House and the Board of Trustees’ annual dinner. CareerPoint, Viewpoint’s summer program that helps rising Seniors discover professional passions and career pathways, allowed him to take his music to a new level.

“When I got into the studio, I knew we had to experiment,” Danese said. “We added drums, guitar, and backup vocals, and suddenly it was a completely new song. It went from a ballad to a pop song.”

"We went through the full process, from developing his song to a professional release,” said Beto Hale, owner of Los Olivos Recording Studios. “He was incredibly motivated, always asking questions and bringing in ideas. It was inspiring to see his enthusiasm and commitment.”

Over a series of three recording sessions, Danese worked with Hale and his team to transform “Fallout,” experimenting with new layers and refining the sound until it was ready for release.  

“I brought in Julian Dans ’25 to play piano, bass, and record backup vocals. He also helped with arranging parts of the song,” Danese said. “Alexa Jeong ’25 even created the cover art. It was amazing to see all these different pieces come together, and it felt like something we could all be proud of.”

With 88 monthly listeners on Spotify, “Fallout" is a testament to Danese's dedication and collaborative spirit. Looking ahead, he hopes to stay involved in the music industry behind the scenes, exploring roles in songwriting and marketing, while continuing to pursue his passion for film.

“It’s rewarding to see the final product out there, but I’m most excited by the creative and collaborative process,” Danese shared.

“This program gives students a taste of what the real world is like,” Hale shared. “They learn that you have to work really hard to reach even the most basic level of competency. There are no shortcuts, but if you love what you’re doing, it doesn’t feel like work.”

Congratulations to Nathan Danese ’25 for reaching this significant milestone in his musical journey! We look forward to seeing where his creativity and dedication take him next. 

If you are able to host a Viewpoint senior this summer, please contact CareerPoint Program Manager Anneke Emerson at Anneke.emerson@viewpoint.org.

Last month, Viewpoint students Jasper Hughes ’27 and Jishnu Mukherjee ’26 performed with a prestigious 16-piece band assembled by Jazz America at the 29th Annual Central Avenue Jazz Festival, one of Los Angeles’ most celebrated jazz events.

Held at the intersection of Central Avenue and 43rd Street, the festival honors the city’s rich jazz heritage. Jasper, on drums, and Jishnu, playing saxophone and flute, were selected from a talented pool of young musicians from across Los Angeles to be part of the ensemble.

“It’s a big event that gets you in front of a lot of people, and we got to play with some of the best musicians in our age group,” shared Hughes, who performed at the festival for the first time. “Coming together for this was a lot of fun.”

“It was great to return to the festival this year,” said Mukherjee, who performed for the second time. “The band was bigger, and the energy of the festival was even more lively. Having Jasper there made the rehearsals and performance even more fun.”

The band played classic jazz pieces, including “Blues Walk,” featuring a solo by Jishnu on saxophone, and “Manteca,” where Jasper showcased his skills with a drum solo. They also performed “Moten Swing,” a full-length tune that brought together the talents of all the musicians.

"Playing in a big band is so different from a small ensemble," said Hughes. "There’s a lot of power behind the music, and it was an amazing experience getting to read charts and catch figures with the band. It felt like everything came together perfectly."

“Our tunes were chosen based on historical jazz figures from Los Angeles, which added so much to the experience,” Mukherjee said. “Our band leader would point to a street sign and say, ‘This is where it happened.’ Playing on a corner that once had a famous jazz bar gave the performance extra meaning.”

Reflecting on their journey to the festival, both students acknowledged the support they've received from Viewpoint’s music department, emphasizing how the guidance from their teachers has been instrumental in their growth.

“If I ever needed help with something or a space to rehearse, they were always open to it,” Mukherjee shared. “Having that support has kept me interested and motivated.”

“They’ve helped us stay engaged and pushed us to keep improving. Even though Jazz America is outside of school, their encouragement has made a big difference,” echoed Hughes.

Congratulations to Jasper Hughes ’27 and Jishnu Mukherjee ’26 on this incredible achievement! We look forward to witnessing their continued success as they proudly represent Viewpoint in future performances.

Julian Dans ’25 has been passionate about music from a young age, writing songs and performing in musical theater since he was eight. Now a Senior at Viewpoint School, he recently showcased his original full-length musical, “Elevation,” in a staged reading in Viewpoint’s Black Box Theater this September.

Inspired by a novel he read in seventh grade, “Elevation” explores themes of human connection, small differences, and the impact of helping others. Julian has spent the past several years developing the project, refining the music and lyrics until he felt it had reached its final form.

“I’ve rewritten almost every song from scratch, some of them twice or three times,” Dans said. “The show that I have now is completely different from what I started with, but it’s the same story that ties it all together.”

With the support of Viewpoint School and a $3,000 grant from the YoungArts Foundation, Julian was able to assemble a professional cast and bring Elevation to life.

“Working with professional actors was incredible. At first, I worried they wouldn’t take me seriously, but they were so supportive and really understood my vision,” shared Dans. “It felt like I was part of something truly professional.”

“Julian has an incredible maturity for someone his age,” said Scott Feldsher, Theatre and Dance Department Chair. “Watching him direct these actors with such confidence and clarity was impressive. He’s truly developed into a young artist ready to take on larger stages.”

This experience allowed Julian to take on multiple roles beyond writing. He directed the production, gave notes to the actors, and managed the entire process from start to finish.

“It was like watching a student step into the professional world for the first time,” Feldsher added. “The actors respected his leadership and approach because he handled the responsibility with such poise.”

Julian views “Elevation” as a significant stepping stone in his creative journey, marking not just the culmination of years of hard work, but also what he hopes will be the beginning of a long and evolving career in the arts.

“I’d love for the show to go further, but even if it doesn’t, it’s something I can show to people in the industry as a representation of what I can do,” Dans said. “It’s been a huge learning experience, and I’m ready to keep growing as a writer.”

“I have no doubt that Julian is destined for big things,” Feldsher said. “He has the talent, the passion, and most importantly the perseverance to succeed. He’s already World Ready.”