District Music Festival Unites Student Musicians
photo credit Aekagra Sondhi.
Each year, student musicians from across the Culver City Unified School District come together for one of the most anticipated events in the district’s arts calendar: the annual district music festival. This year’s performance on February 11 was the largest yet, bringing 540 students to the stage and filling the Robert Frost Auditorium with an enthusiastic crowd of parents, teachers, and community members.
The concert showcased the depth of CCUSD’s musical talent, with performances from all five elementary schools—La Ballona, Farragut, El Rincon, Linwood Howe, and El Marino—alongside the CCMS band, orchestra, and choir, and the CCHS concert band, orchestra, and choir. The program highlighted not only individual ensembles, but the continuity of music education across grade levels throughout the district.
The emotional centerpiece of the evening came in the final act, when students from every participating ensemble joined together for a combined performance of “Make Them Hear You” from the musical Ragtime. With its message about the power of individual voices and standing up against injustice, the piece brought instrumentalists and vocalists together in a powerful and unified conclusion that earned a standing ovation.
For many students, district concerts like this one serve as inspiration. Vivian Menthe, a current senior at CCHS and the co-President of AVPA Music has played violin since fifth grade and joined the choir since third grade. She credits events like this for keeping her engaged in music. “They definitely kept me interested,” she said. “You’d see the high schoolers performing and think, ‘I want to do that.’” For countless students, these concerts spark a long-term commitment to music, whether through singing or instrumental performance.
The event is led by Dr. Tony Spano, director of the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts and the Marching Band at the high school. With more than 25 years of teaching experience and a decade of district concerts under his leadership, Dr. Spano continues to see the program grow. He values the opportunity to share his passion for music while giving younger students a glimpse of what lies ahead in their musical journeys.
Among his personal highlights this year were the songs Bugler’s Holiday, performed by the CCHS band, and Huapango, by the orchestra. Another standout moment came from the middle school orchestra, which surprised audiences with a confident and energetic performance of “Golden” from K‑Pop Demon Hunters. The piece challenged students with bold dynamics and high registers, all of which they executed with impressive precision.
As the concert concluded, it was clear that the CCUSD music program is not only thriving, but growing stronger each year. By bringing together students of all ages on one stage, the annual district concert celebrates both where these young musicians are now and where their passion for music can take them in the future.