The Area Concert is an annual tradition at Aliso Niguel High School in which Aliso’s band invites aspiring musicians, from all the schools in the area with students that will one day attend
Aliso Niguel High School, to perform alongside one another in one huge concert.
The event started at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday 15, 2025. Both the gym floor and stands were brimming with excitement and well dressed concert goers.
Elementary students from Bergeson, Canyon Vista, Don Juan Avila, Laguna Niguel, Moulton, Oak Grove and Wood Canyon Elementary School participated in this year’s concert. These young artists were placed in the very middle of Aliso Niguel’s main gym, directly in front of the bleachers.
The elementary schools began the concert, playing several songs lead by the Directors George Brown and Kory Wentzel. To finish their segment of the concert, the young string players excitedly played their own rendition of Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” This performance was especially fun to watch as the players stomped along with the song, encouraging the crowd to stomp suit.
Secondly, Don Juan Avila’s band took the stage, performing their specialized set of songs, most notably for the audience being “Charlie Saint.” Elena Rodriguez, the Band Director at Don Juan Avila, led her band playing the violin with her students, a surprising and fun take on conducting.
Following Don Juan Avila’s performance was Aliso Viejo Middle School, led by Director Jeff McGinnis. The AVMS band’s most memorable performance was “The Tempest,” which commanded the room despite the band’s small size.
After both middle schools bands finished their first round of songs, the players rearranged themselves allowing younger and less experienced players to exit the formation, creating each school’s “Advanced Band.”
Don Juan Avila’s and Aliso Viejo Middle School’s Advanced Band continued their respective performance with a more professional and accurate tone.
Once both Middle Schools bands completed their songs, Aliso Niguel High School’s Concert Band Ensemble masterfully took the stage.
ANHS’ band stole the show during their performance, with the heavy and demanding presence brought on by their use of ten bass players as well as the mystical tone of the electric piano.
Just before 6:45 p.m., the Area Concert would begin its most important set, the Combined Performance. This final song incorporated all musicians in the building, from the beginners in elementary to the masters in high school.
Dr. Mahindrakar said he liked the Combined Performance saying, “One place, at one time, in one evening [we are able] to see the progression.”
Over 300 string players joined together to close off the night, performing “Louie, Louie.” The performance was a fun way to encapsulate the spread of talent as both seniors in high school and elementary schoolers could be seen plucking along to the same notes.
After the song, all players stood and bowed to the packed crowd of supportive parents and family members.
Aliso Niguel’s Band Director, Mr. Ma, said the Area Concerts are, “Always such a blast.”
This year’s Area Concert was a fun event to kick off the year for Aliso Niguel High School as well as provide inspiration for young artists of all levels to continue working hard for their futures.
