Newport Harbor musicians cross fingers for D.C.

Christine Carrillo

After receiving a proclamation from the mayor and a nod from

California’s governor, the music department at Newport Harbor High

School now has its sights set on the White House.

Seventy-two music students at Newport Harbor will head to

Washington, D.C. over the Memorial Day weekend to perform at nearby

Annapolis and maybe even tour the White House, something that’s

nearly impossible to do these days.

Within the next few weeks, a repertoire will be prepared and

practice will begin. In the meantime, there’s much more work outside

their musical element that needs tending to.

They need money.

“We have a lot of kids within our organization that aren’t of the

economic means to take a three-day weekend and go to Washington,”

said Rob Henthorn, music director at Newport Harbor for the past 10

years. “This is actually something very big in their life, and I

think it’s really wonderful for them to do something like this at one

time in their life.”

Through various fund-raising efforts, the music department has

raised money to help a number of students go on the six-day trip, but

there are still about a dozen students who haven’t raised the nearly

$1,000 they’ll need to attend.

Every year, the music department schedules a trip for its

students. Every other year, that trip takes them to such places as

Vancouver, Canada, Hawaii and, now, Washington, D.C.

“These are educational trips, but also performance opportunities,”

Henthorn said. “[They’re] educational from a musical standpoint, but

also in a broader sense as well. ... To perform at some places like

Pearl Harbor or Annapolis has a very profound effect on our young

people.”

Donations may be sent to Newport Harbor High School, c/o the Music

Department, 600 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach, CA 92663 or you can call

Henthorn at (949) 515-6325.

* CHRISTINE CARRILLO covers education and may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at [email protected].