Category: Arts & Culture

Poly seniors took to the Longfellow Elementary School stage for the KeysTone Piano Quartet senior recital on Friday, June 5th.
This was the last time the advanced pianists would play as Long Beach Poly Jackrabbits. The quartet is made up of seniors Mayvera Doaran, Phoebe Hao, Jasmine Kay, and Damian Nguyen.
Junior pianist Tre’von Robinson said he was “excited to see all the seniors perform so exceptionally after all their hard work in the classroom.”
The hour long recital featured the entire advanced piano class and four solos, two duets, and four quartets. The quartets included the Scot Joplin Rag Rhapsody, Champagne Toccata, and the Moldau.
For senior Phoebe Hao, ten years of practice and performing paid off, as she played throughout the entire recital, including a Debussy piece.
Hao ended up enjoying “every performance of the recital,” and was excited that her years of practice did allow her to achieve perfection on Friday night.
As an encore, the quartet premiered Damian Nguyen’s arrangement of Rhapsody of Blue for melodica and six hands
“It was an honor and a privilege to be part of the quartet, especially since this was my first year in Poly’s piano program, and I am so proud that we are the first at Poly to have a piano quartet recital separate from the annual recitals that the piano classes have,” said Nguyen.i

On Thursday, May 21, the Spring Vocal Concert was held at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University in Long Beach.
The concert began at 6:30 p.m. and featured the Chorale, Cecilian, Chamber, Jazz I, and Jazz II singers. Past alumni singers also joined in at the end of a beautiful concert.
The night started off with Chorale performing “Can’t Take That Away From Me,” “Kyrie,” and “Dead Men’s Bones.” Both Sabrina Thiem and Thomas Fleming gave beautiful solos during “Kyrie.” Their music had soulful undertones with classic folk songs that brought life to the hall.
The concert then moved on to Cecilian singers, who sang “Down at the River to Pray,” and “Until We Meet Again,” and “L.O.V.E.”
After that Chamber Choir gave beautiful renditions of “All I Ask of You,” “Venez et Chantez les Louanges,” “Snami Bog,” and “Tanzen und Springen (Gagliarda).” These songs brought the music of many different cultures to the stage, including French, German, and Russian.
Jazz II then took the stage with “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” “Unforgettable,” and “Moonglow.” During “Dream a Little Dream of Me” Nina Hodjat gave an angelic solo, and Mia Grayson and Dylan Stump also had lovely solos during “Unforgettable.”
Finally, Jazz I performed “Joy,” and “Come Sunday,” with almost every esteemed member giving a solo performance at some point.
The night closed with Chamber Choir and Alumni singing “And So It Goes,” with Matt Oca’s touching solo highlighting the song.
The last concert of the year sent many senior singers home with fond memories of their time in Poly’s music department.

Feeling like a mad scientist’s ethereal fever dream, the Museum of Jurassic Technology is one of the most wonderfully weird places in Los Angeles.
There, inside of an understated little building, lies one of the strangest collections of curiosities and oddities in all of California.
The exhibits bear no singular category. In one room, microscopic painting made from butterfly wings fill case after case. In another, a series of superstitions are displayed alongside artifacts important to such beliefs, like a baby’s tooth or a vial of urine. And in another, miniature trailer parks line an ominously dark room.
However, the last room is by far the most memorable. Immediately preceded by a room of astronaut dog portraits and a movie beyond all description is a very simple space containing three things: tea, a couple a of chairs, and the sweetest puppy man shall ever pet.
Within all the things this museum presents, the most prominent are its questions: What is this? Is it a social experiment? An elaborate piece of performance art? Just one big joke? Hours of exploration, copious notes, and excessive patience could begin to answer these questions.
However, if you’re simply interested in an absurd evening of pure mystery, there is no other place to go but the Museum of Jurassic Technology.

Lions, tigers and bears. Oh my! This was my first time at a school-produced play. I went to go to see the play in its closing weekend with my best friend.
We sat down and opened our programs, realizing two things: that this play would be long and that it would involve a lot of singing. Suffice to say, we were extremely unprepared for what was to come. But, hey, you can’t blame us—we were only going for extra credit. However, much to our surprise, we ended up thoroughly enjoying this student production led by Kathy Hubbard.
In case you have been living under a rock, The Wizard of Oz is the story of a Kansas girl named Dorothy and her dog Toto, both of whom have been swept off to the Land of Oz by way of tornado. To find her way home, Dorothy, along with the help of the Scarecrow, the Lion, and the Tin Man, follows the Yellow Brick Road to meet with the Wizard and defeat the Wicked Witch of the West.
The play started about ten minutes after we arrived. The first person out was Dorothy, played by senior Jasmine Sim, followed by her loyal companion Toto, played by an adorable St. Bernadid fifth grader, Alessandra Rubalcava. I have to give props to Sim for being able to keep that classic wispy, airy, yet mildly annoying voice while taking on the role of Dorothy.
Right after this first scene, we were introduced to all of the main characters. There was senior Gaby Rubalcava, who took on the roles of Miss Gultch and the Wicked Witch of the West. Even though she had more stage time as the Wicked Witch, I felt that this performance was much stronger. Next came Aunt Em, played by senior Emma Gressett, who also played Glinda The Good Witch. Personally, I felt that she was one of the best performances of the night, largely because of how natural and effortless her acting was.
We then saw Dorothy’s fellow companions in Oz: Tin Man, Lion, and Scarecrow, played by Patrice Berry, Donte Owens and Donge Tucker, respectively. As a group, I believe they worked well and played off each other beautifully. Individually, every single one of them embodied their character perfectly. But I have to say, the superstar was definitely Tucker as the Scarecrow. His performance was a perfect mix of over-the-top theatrics and believable acting.
As for the music and choreography of the play, the actors were accompanied by a small group of musicians from Poly’s own musical program, and the singing and dancing were not outstanding, but they were not half bad. I must admit that the whole shebang was actually very enjoyable. There was a total of twelve musical numbers, including the “Jitterbug,” a deleted scene from the original film.
The sets and props were fairly simple. There was nothing too fancy, just the typical high school sets (and not the ones in High School Musical, I can assure you) with hand-painted backgrounds of trees, walls, and a disappointing Emerald City, that did not bear any resemblance to emeralds in any way. You would expect some bedazzles somewhere, right? As for the costumes, props to all the costume designers, for all the costumes were great, fun, and playful, adding another dimension to the play.
There was a quick intermission between the acts, where I had a disappointing donut and my friend and I raved about how Toto looked exactly like Vivi-Anne from Dance Moms. Fifteen minutes later we were seated again and were transported back into Oz for the fantastic ending which features the Wizard himself. Adan Gonzales’ performance, of the Wizard and Professor Marvel, was one of the most enjoyable. He was funny, and his body language and eccentric behavior made for some wonderful acting.
Overall, I think this play deserves a solid 4/5 stars. I can’t even imagine the amount of effort that goes into these productions, and I highly admire the dedication of the whole cast.

A variety of Poly’s student ensembles attended the Millikan Band and Orchestra Festival on March 17^th and 18^th and delighted the judges with outstanding performances including classic orchestral repertoire and modern compositions.

A wide range of pieces were performed by Poly’s musical groups at Festival, including Holsts’ “Mars” and “Venus” from The Planets and “Blue Shades” by Frank Tichelli

Middle and high school bands and orchestras from across Southern California performed in front of a panel of three judges who evaluated the quality of their performance based on tone, pitch, overall musicality, etc. The groups then received their final scores, ranging from poor to superior, superior being the highest score a group can receive. Post-performance, the orchestras were tested on their sight-reading skills, and the bands experienced a valuable clinic from one of the judges in their panel.

For further improvements, recordings of comments from all three judges were provided and used to tweak the bands’ and orchestras’ performances.

“Festival allows us to develop ourselves both individually and as an ensemble with the help of professional advice from three well-practiced professional musicians,” said Jeffrey Lam, concertmaster of Chamber Orchestra.

Overall, the Poly orchestras and bands performed strongly. Full Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, and Symphonic Winds received unanimous ratings of superior. The Symphonic String Orchestra and Concert Band received overall grades of excellent.

“They performed very well despite the move to Millikan. I’m very proud,” said music teacher Mr. Osman.

Poly’s annual Scholarship concert will be held at LBCC on the 27th for orchestras and on the 28th for bands, and will feature senior solos from Eddie Oliver, Sihyun Ahn, and Chelsea Cameron.

7:05am. The sun begins to climb over the jagged peaks of Abalone Cove.

“Jump!”

The word reverberates in the still air, as I leap from the rocks and plunge into the churning waters of the Pacific Ocean. Adrenaline rushes through me as millions of icy needles sting my exposed flesh. For an eternity, a penetrating sense of blue surrounds me, before my lungs strain and I break the surface. Seaweed-like hair sticks to my face and I expel the water from my mouth. The taste of salt is overwhelming.

Now comes the hard part. “Swim!” I hear Katie yell and I barely understand her, the waves are deafening. My limbs struggle to acclimate to the tug of water, the cold that seems to penetrate my bones. I swim frantically, knowing the ocean’s capacity for cruelty. The salt stings my eyes as I struggle against the pull of the current. Fumbling, my finers grasp the smooth, slippery rock and I haul myself up over the ledge. I collapse, drained but ecstatic. Katie offers me a hand and I gladly take it. She smiles, beckoning towards the rocky expanse before us.

The tide pools teem with hermit crabs, urchins, and sea anemone. Sunlight reflects off the undisturbed water. While exploring, I think less about the anxiety of slipping and more about the exhilaration of leaping. I leave feeling utterly alive, knowing that I have to embrace the risk of slipping in order to dive into the vast ocean of opportunity.

I first learned about The Funeral Portrait about seven months ago when I was emailed their debut album, For the Dearly Departed, mp3s. I was skeptical after doing a bit of research, because TFP is the definition of an unknown band. Because of their limited fan base, I assumed mediocrity. I can tell you right now that I never could have been more wrong.
As I hit the play button to song one, “Casanova (C’est La Vie),” a catchy riff filled my ears. A light background of cymbal accompanies the perfect balance of guitar and synthesizer until all fades away into a melancholy chord. At this point, a musty, semi-deep voice sings out, “I’d rather bury you alive than bear the burden that you keep ‘cause you’re a poison in my veins. I’ll never say surrender.” A quick transition leads the listener into the gloriously upbeat sounds of pop rock that features clever guitar work mixed with strategic drumming that adds excellent splashes of sound. The most curious voice leads the entire ensemble, weaving and winding with a Serj Tankian-esque timbre and five-star range.
“Wax Romantic,” the closing song to this masterpiece, starts out more as a tribute to the metalcore scene, featuring vicious screams and a driving, punk-reminiscent drumbeat. However, this doesn’t last long; within thirty seconds, The Funeral Portrait returns to their trademark sound that draws from pond on p, ska, and polka but always stay true to the instrumental intelligences of rock and metal. Next comes the catchy chorus that they are so excellent at crafting: “this is the part where I apologize for everything I’ve done, and when my world is torn asunder, will you go underneath with me?”
The Funeral Portrait is one of my greatest musical discoveries. Their music is brilliantly written, and the members are at heart true musicians. If they play their cards right, they will become the next big rock band.
Their music can be found on Youtube and iTunes.

In a world filled with music, it is an inevitable choice, as a musician, which route to take: the way of rock and pop or the classical path. Senior Eddie Oliver has chosen the classical way, as a percussionist. He specializes in mallet instuments and the vibraphone. Olver is a performer in the A2 Jazz Band, and he also plays timpani and bells in the Symphony and Chamber Orchestras.
Classical artists are performing a style of music that was begun far before pop music, and therefore, they still deserve notice.
“Advice I would give to aspiring musicians would be to practice a lot. You can accomplish so much if you actually try and stick with it,” said Oliver.
Oliver began taking piano lessons at the age of eight, and continued his musical education by joining the school band in 4th grade. He began percussion in the 7th grade by playing the xylophone, and has not stopped since.
Currently, he is working on an ambitious set list for the Jazz Band and is arranging a mallet quartet for a ragtime piece by Scott Joplin for the Solo/Ensemble Festival in April. However, the most diffficult thing he is working on now is playing a vibraphone concerto with Symphonic Winds.
Oliver is planning to be a music major in college, though he is not yet sure what university he will attend.
“I would just like to thank Milan Moliere and Lathell Powel, Tristan Buckreis, and Tom Hughes,” Oliver said. “Without any of those individuals I would not be the musician or even the person I am today; they have helped me tremendously throughout the years.”

To Think

To think that once upon a time
When fairy tales were on our minds
When jump-rope rhymes and skipping time
Were all
That mattered.

To think that not so long ago
Our parents cried and laughed and smiled
Living the life that we now live
And we ignore that they
Are people, too.

To think that when we are sad and lonely
Other people are sad and lonely, too.

To think that you are the only one
Who feels that way
When your next-door neighbor thinks
They are the only one
Who feels
Alone.

To think that once upon time
Happy lives were everywhere
And now
You are sad
And they are gone.

To think that when we are sad
The world keeps spinning.

To think.
Think.
Thi―.

Watch

turnkey’s eyes spies by hinge of door
ordered to watch forevermore
is said by logic did i not obey
so be it on cold floor must i lay
air deeply thick by my obliging breath
not have mattered had I succeeded at death

Numb

they ask—how do you feel?
–I feel numb, I say
but they always want to know—
what does that mean?
I’ll shrug my shoulders
and brush it off
as all who are numb will do
what I always want to say
but can’t
for the numb speak only in their minds
is that I am beyond my sorrows
my deepest depression
nothing can touch me now
I float above life with only fear
fear of waking up to reality.

love is falling out

love is falling out;
vision cracks and falters,
the voices are inaudible
because they drown the depths
of a poisonous world,
I burn my fingertips in the sun
to forget your touch…
a prolonged past numbness pays me a visit
and separates our holding hands so easily,
This grasp was insecure
Because love is falling out.

In recent years, science fiction has stormed onto the entertainment scene. Whether it be movies and television, books, or even video games, sci-fi has managed to capture the hearts of its broad audience.
Science fiction is a fictional genre that deals with imaginative, yet realistic science themes such as time travel, space travel, parallel universes, futuristic technology, extraterrestrial life and post-apocalyptic worlds. While it has always been in the entertainment landscape, sci-fi has truly hit its stride within the last two decades.
From Isaac Asimov and Carl Sagan to George Lucas and Christopher Nolan, the genre has quite a history. Isaac Asimov’s works such as The Foundation Trilogy, I,Robot, and The Caves of Steel paved the way for some of the great sci-fi books that we know today. Dune, The Hunger Games and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy are all deeply influenced by early sci-fi authors.
Now, as is the case with many books, they are translated into live-action film. This is the case for many sci-fi books as well. 2001: A Space Odyssey, Jurassic Park and Contact are just a few out of the many sci-fi books to become major motion pictures. Sci-fi movies don’t only come from film adaptations, however. Many hit sci-fi movies such as the Star Wars series, Alien, and Avatar all started out as original ideas. Also, just as movies adapt screenplays from books, TV shows adapt ideas from movies. In fact, Terry Gillam’s Twelve Monkeys is currently airing a spinoff show with the same title on the SyFy network. Other movie to TV show adaptations include Starman and The War of the Worlds.
One last aspect in which science fiction has truly cemented itself is the video game department. Sci-fi has the perfect amount of epicness for the video game format. Science fiction video games have been there since the beginning. From the Halo and Mass Effect franchises to Bioshock and Destiny, sci-fi video games have thrived ever since their conception.
So, if you haven’t already, give science fiction a try. Whether its through reading, watching or playing, sci-fi has a place for everyone.
Recommended Books: Dune, Black Science, I, Robot.
Recommended Movies: Avatar, Interstellar, Star Trek movies.
Recommended TV shows: Acension, 12 Monkeys.
Recommended video games: Halo series, Destiny, Mass Effect series.