Musicians gear up for Daniel Pearl World Music Day
Maria Ruiz, Harlow Frank, and Christopher Sarenana
October 22, 2019
The fall leaves gather onto the courtyards and songs make their way through the hallways as the musicians get ready for the 10th Annual World Music Day this Thursday night.
Courtyard 1 South is engulfed in drum beats and guitar plucks throughout October as Daniel Pearl Magnet High School (DPMHS) students start practicing for the annual celebration honoring the late Wall Street journalist Daniel Pearl. This concert was created to remember Pearl and his adoration for music and the arts. Since 2002 the Daniel Pearl Foundation has held World Music Days in October, Pearl’s birth month. Over 140 countries take part in these “Harmony for Humanity” and at DPMHS, the melodies continue in his memory.
“It’s important to continue the thinking of Daniel Pearl, who was a journalist that traveled the world and played music and tried to create bonds between all cultures,” music teacher and coordinator Wes Hambright said. “Now that he’s gone, I think all of us at this school have a little bit of a responsibility to carry the torch.”
On Thursday, the evening performance begins at 7 p.m. On Wednesday, some classes will be able to view the dress rehearsals during the school day.
In the past years, the concert’s themes have been peace, love and friendship. But this year, the musicians, along with Hambright, want to focus on the celebration. The songs will be more about the feeling of waking up one day and just celebrating life itself.
Keeping the celebration theme throughout their set, they want to keep the joyful energy amongst the crowd with songs like “Oye Mi Amor” by Mana and “Dancing Queen” by ABBA. Overall, they are trying to achieve an optimistic tone through their music and send a message of appreciation for being alive.
Several of the musicians have participated in this musical commemoration for all of their four years of high school and this will be their last World Music Day concert. Although new voices and players will wiggle their way in, the senior musicians will undoubtedly miss being a part of this annual performance.
“I’m happy that this show will be a high energy one so I’ll have a fun last World Music Day,” said singer and musician Andi Mendoza.
