In honor of the birthday and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Viewpoint School presented its second production of Healing through Music on January 21, bringing students, faculty and staff, parents and guardians, alumni, and community members together to explore the unifying and restorative power of music.

Held in the Carlson Family Theater, the day featured two student assemblies and an evening community performance, presented by the Office of Community Life in collaboration with Viewpoint’s Music, Theatre, and Dance Departments. Building on its original production, this year’s program introduced new contributions from students, faculty and staff, parents and guardians, and alumni, along with an accompanying art gallery curated by Visual Arts Department Chair Nell Yates.

“Music is transformative,” said Patricia Jackson, Chief Belonging and Community Officer at Viewpoint School. “It can touch our souls, offering healing benefits, making it a powerful tool in the reduction of stress and also, for bringing people together in building community. Dr. King’s oratory was rich with meaning and rhythm. He viewed music as a powerful instrument of change.”

The performance opened with a medley by Voices Now, Viewpoint’s Upper School vocal ensemble, joined by Smooth Mahogany, a group of FAAV moms. Music teacher Marisa McLeod followed with a stirring rendition of “Battle Hymn of the Republic (Glory, Hallelujah)” on violin before introducing her musical interpretation of “This Little Light of Mine,” accompanied on piano by Kyle deTarnowskyon.

Los Angeles-based musician and educator Jason Lee Bruns offered storytelling and led an interactive African drum circle with students and faculty, while composer and arranger Bill Brendle and student Jack Lawson ’29 performed Scott Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag.” Additional highlights included Viewpoint teacher Corey Henderson’s rendition of “Let It Be” and a bilingual performance of “Endless Love” in Mandarin and Korean by students David Wang ’27 and Rachael Chun ’27.

Notable guest artists included Viewpoint alumni Randy White ’16, an R&B singer-songwriter and music therapist, and Jen Hirsh ’04, an R&B singer-songwriter and American Idol semi-finalist. The evening concluded with a powerful rendition of We are A Family, from Dreamgirls, by a nearly 100-member Viewpoint Community Choir.

In his closing remarks, Mark McKee, Viewpoint’s head of school, spoke to the sense of belonging and shared purpose reflected throughout Healing through Music.

“At Viewpoint, family is a value that is enshrined in our vision,” McKee said. “Each of you is part of a family, and family means you love one another and accept one another without condition. That you belong. You are part of the Viewpoint family, united by our traditions and community and purpose. And you are part of the family of humankind, this interconnected web of mutuality. We are stronger together.”

Watch the ABC7 Los Angeles segment featuring Healing through Music here.