It is the time of year when a cappella groups are holding their annual end-of-year concerts!  Road to Damascus and Bruin Harmony have already held theirs this past week, and there are many more exciting ones to come, including YOUTHphonics, Medleys, Random Voices, ScatterTones, and more.

As a part of YOUTHphonics A Cappella, I understand the stress that goes into putting together a concert near the end of the quarter when finals, papers and projects are starting to roll in.  But, the dedication and passion that has gone into every rehearsal and meeting have been reminders and examples of how involved and devoted students are here at UCLA.  It is amazing how we take time out of our busy lives to come together each week to make music and organize ourselves until we are performance-ready.  For the concert this year, we have been able to recruit students from Fairfax High School (where we hold a weekly after-school program teaching music and a cappella singing) to come and perform one of our arrangements with us.  I am so proud of our progress throughout the year, and can only say the same for other campus groups that each have their own goals and achievements as well.  YOUTHphonics’ annual benefit concert will take place tomorrow evening in the Buenos Ayres room of Sunset Canyon Recreation Center, and I can’t wait until the time comes for us to sing our hearts out and have the time of our lives with our students.

For those who have interest in opera and choral music, the UCLA Choral Department is performing an Opera Gala on June 4th in the beautiful Royce Hall Auditorium, deemed a premier concert hall of the nation.  Two evenings prior, the Italian Consulate will be holding a national celebration of the Italian Independence Day on the West Wing of Royce Hall, during which I will join the UCLA Chorale in performing the American and Italian national anthems as well as selected Italian opera works for the ambassadors attending the ceremony.  This embodies one of my favorite things about being a student at UCLA, that endless opportunities present themselves to you when you are here, such as the opportunity to sing for the ambassadors of the Italian Consulate.  It is truly a privilege!