🎵 sARATOGA MUSIC BOOSTERS: 2025-2026 YEAR IN REVIEW
Empowering Student Musicians, Building Community, and
Celebrating Excellence
Since 1974, the Saratoga Music Boosters (SMB) have partnered with the music
directors of the Saratoga Union School District (SUSD) and Saratoga High School
(SHS). Our mission is to transform their artistic visions into reality. By funding
world-class music clinics, masterclasses, specialized coaching, and essential
equipment, SMB ensures every child has access to an elite musical education.
Importantly, SMB believes that financial constraints should never stand in the way of
inspiration. We proudly sponsor student travel grants so all qualifying musicians can
participate in life-changing performance tours, regardless of their family’s financial
situation.
Our Beloved Community Traditions
Our successes are powered entirely by our community. This year, our two signature,
annual fundraisers brought Saratoga together in spectacular fashion:
● The Annual Cookie Dough Fundraiser: A sweet community favorite where
students across all schools team up to drive vital program funding.
● The SMB Pancake Breakfast: A true celebration of talent where community
members devour fresh pancakes while enjoying live showcases from every
single music program in SUSD and SHS.
Saratoga High School (SHS) Music Program
Central Philosophy: Empowerment of the Student
The high school music curriculum goes far beyond technical notes. Our program
aims to cultivate deep, thoughtful, and respectful individuals who celebrate cultural
differences and find common ground through art.
During the 2025–2026 fiscal year, SMB proudly supported our student musicians
and performers across seven elite disciplines:
● Concert & Marching Band: 182 students
● Orchestra: 168 students
● Winter Percussion: 78 students
● Jazz Band: 47 students
● Choir: 36 students
● Color Guard: 17 students
● Winter Guard: 16 students
Global Spotlight: The 2026 Japan Cultural Tour
Every four years, our music students take their talents abroad. This year, SHS
musicians embarked on a breathtaking two-week tour of Japan. This immersive
experience allowed our students to attend local Japanese schools, engage in
authentic cultural exchanges, and share music across borders. It was a humbling,
eye-opening journey that expanded their historical perspectives and left an indelible
mark on their global citizenship.
Elite Achievements & State Honors
Saratoga High School continued its legacy of absolute excellence on competitive
local and state stages:
● CASMEC All-State Ensembles: 13 SHS students were accepted into the
highly competitive California All-State Music Education Conference
ensembles.
○ Band / Wind Ensemble: 7 students selected
○ Orchestra: 6 students selected
● All-State Choir: 6 choir students were selected to represent SHS at the
prestigious All-State conference.
● Regional Honors Choir: 10 students were selected for the Coastal Regional
Honors Choir in Berkeley.
● CMEA Bay Section Honor Choir: 3 talented 9th graders were selected from a
massive, highly competitive audition pool.
● Marching Band Triumphs: Our Marching Band captured 1st Place at the
Cupertino Tournament of Bands—our first victory at this event in a decade!
They followed it up with a stellar 2nd Place finish at Sacramento State.
● Winter Percussion National Ranking: The Winter Percussion World Class
team traveled to Dayton, Ohio, for the WGI World Championships, finishing the
season ranked in the Top 10 nationally.
● CMEA Unanimous Superiors: The SHS Choir earned the highest possible
marks, receiving unanimous "Superior" ratings from independent adjudicators.
Professional Masterclasses & Alumni Inspiration
SMB funds structural initiatives like the SHS Concerto Competitions, bringing 5
professional adjudicators to judge student performances, with winners earning solo
spots at our seasonal concerts. We also bridged the gap to the professional world by
welcoming back famous alumni and industry heavyweights:
● Vienna Teng (SHS Alum): The celebrated singer-songwriter returned to
mentor students, share her industry journey, and collaborate directly with the
Jazz Band to arrange her piece, "The Boy at the Piano."
● Tony Glausi (SHS Alum): The New York-based professional trumpeter,
keyboardist, and composer collaborated with jazz students, wrote custom
music charts, and heavily mentored our percussion and marching ensembles.
● Chamber Music by the Bay (Jessica Chang, SHS Alum): Marked the 13th
anniversary of this incredible chamber music residency. Students participated
in rigorous workshops and performed side-by-side on stage with world-class
professional musicians.
● Ankush Bahl (SHS Alum): The Music Director of the Omaha Symphony—who
has conducted the New York Philharmonic—provided invaluable, authentic
advice on building professional relationships.
● Jay Wu Lee (SHS Alum): Professional trombone player with the Toledo
Symphony, who shared real-world insights into the life of a working orchestral
musician.
● Distinguished Clinicians: Students received focused coaching from Stanford’s
Director of Jazz, Mike Galisatus, as well as Dr. Mark Laycock and professional
brass quintet performer Dr. Lauren Casey-Clyde (Class of 2014, Seraph
Brass).
Saratoga Union School District (SUSD)
Building the Foundation of Musical Excellence
Great musicians start early. SUSD's robust musical ecosystem introduces students
to the joy of music in elementary school and refines their talents at Redwood Middle
School (RMS).
In total, the RMS music department accounts for over 400 enrolled students—nearly
2/3 of the entire middle school student body!
Enrollment by the Numbers
● 5th Grade Instrumental Program: 175 students (spanning Saratoga, Foothill,
and Argonaut elementary schools, learning both strings and wind
instruments).
● RMS Band (Concert, Woodwind, Brass, Percussion): 225 students
● RMS Orchestra: 191 students
● RMS Jazz Band: 30 students
● RMS Choir: 23 students
● RMS Color / Winter Guard: 18 students
● RMS Winter Percussion: 14 students
Real-World Classrooms: From SF Symphony to Disney
Our advanced middle schoolers benefited from incredible experiential learning
opportunities designed to map their classroom lessons to real-world professions:
● San Francisco Symphony Live Play-Along: Students attended an open
rehearsal and live performance of Pirates of the Caribbean, observing how
professional musicians perfectly synchronize live instrumentation with film
using click tracks. Sitting directly behind the stage, students noted the
performance sounded "so perfect it didn't even feel live."
● The Disney Recording Workshop: Taking their symphony knowledge to the
next level, students traveled to Los Angeles to step into the shoes of studio
musicians, participating in a backstage soundtrack recording workshop and
listening back to their own studio sessions.
Middle School Achievements & Milestones
● CASMEC All-State Honors: SUSD young musicians proved they can compete
with the best in the state, sending 10 total students to the All-State
ensembles:
○ RMS Orchestra: 7 upper strings students selected
○ RMS Band: 3 band students selected
● RMS Orchestra Performance: The Advanced and Chamber ensembles
traveled to San Francisco, delivering formidable performances at the
prestigious American String Teachers Association (ASTA) festival.
● RMS Band Progress: It was a highly successful year for our band students.
Advanced Band musicians had the exciting opportunity to play in the stands
alongside the Saratoga High School Band during a football game. Throughout
the year, sheet music was tailored for all student proficiency levels, and
dedicated instrumental coaches provided targeted, direct support. Beginning
Band students heavily mastered their method books before seamlessly
graduating to standard sheet music by the end of the year.
● RMS Color Guard & Winter Guard Growth: The competitive season officially
launched in the spring with a standout performance at the CCGC evaluations
at James Logan High School. Building upon formal Winter Guard routines
introduced just last year, the team put on fantastic performances at Fremont
High School and capped off their season at Oak Grove High School,
showcasing incredible progress from a roster filled with many first-year
members.
● First-Ever Winter Percussion Debut: Under the direction of Mr. Staab, the
newly formed Winter Percussion ensemble successfully debuted in its
first-ever NCPA competitive event at James Logan High School. Their season
culminated with a fantastic final performance at our own SMB Pancake
Breakfast Fundraiser.
● Cross-Campus Collaborations: To inspire the next generation, the RMS Choir
shared the concert stage for joint performances with the SHS Choir and Jazz
Band.
● A Popular (and Free!) Community Resource: Our winter and end-of-year upper
string and band concerts are incredibly popular community events. To
accommodate the massive crowds while keeping these performances
completely free and open to the public, the concerts were divided into two
separate sessions to ensure everyone could comfortably enjoy the music
without overcrowding the theater.
The Director's Perspective
"It makes a massive difference that our kids come into middle school with a
strong foundation on instruments starting all the way back in the 5th grade.
The continuity of support from the Saratoga Music Boosters allows us to
build a lifelong love for music, pushing our student ensembles to heights
rarely seen at the public school level."
Support Saratoga Music
The instrument coaches, custom arrangements, travel scholarships, and
masterclasses detailed in this report are funded directly through your generosity.
Help us keep the music playing for the 2026–2027 academic year!
Celebrating Excellence
Since 1974, the Saratoga Music Boosters (SMB) have partnered with the music
directors of the Saratoga Union School District (SUSD) and Saratoga High School
(SHS). Our mission is to transform their artistic visions into reality. By funding
world-class music clinics, masterclasses, specialized coaching, and essential
equipment, SMB ensures every child has access to an elite musical education.
Importantly, SMB believes that financial constraints should never stand in the way of
inspiration. We proudly sponsor student travel grants so all qualifying musicians can
participate in life-changing performance tours, regardless of their family’s financial
situation.
Our Beloved Community Traditions
Our successes are powered entirely by our community. This year, our two signature,
annual fundraisers brought Saratoga together in spectacular fashion:
● The Annual Cookie Dough Fundraiser: A sweet community favorite where
students across all schools team up to drive vital program funding.
● The SMB Pancake Breakfast: A true celebration of talent where community
members devour fresh pancakes while enjoying live showcases from every
single music program in SUSD and SHS.
Saratoga High School (SHS) Music Program
Central Philosophy: Empowerment of the Student
The high school music curriculum goes far beyond technical notes. Our program
aims to cultivate deep, thoughtful, and respectful individuals who celebrate cultural
differences and find common ground through art.
During the 2025–2026 fiscal year, SMB proudly supported our student musicians
and performers across seven elite disciplines:
● Concert & Marching Band: 182 students
● Orchestra: 168 students
● Winter Percussion: 78 students
● Jazz Band: 47 students
● Choir: 36 students
● Color Guard: 17 students
● Winter Guard: 16 students
Global Spotlight: The 2026 Japan Cultural Tour
Every four years, our music students take their talents abroad. This year, SHS
musicians embarked on a breathtaking two-week tour of Japan. This immersive
experience allowed our students to attend local Japanese schools, engage in
authentic cultural exchanges, and share music across borders. It was a humbling,
eye-opening journey that expanded their historical perspectives and left an indelible
mark on their global citizenship.
Elite Achievements & State Honors
Saratoga High School continued its legacy of absolute excellence on competitive
local and state stages:
● CASMEC All-State Ensembles: 13 SHS students were accepted into the
highly competitive California All-State Music Education Conference
ensembles.
○ Band / Wind Ensemble: 7 students selected
○ Orchestra: 6 students selected
● All-State Choir: 6 choir students were selected to represent SHS at the
prestigious All-State conference.
● Regional Honors Choir: 10 students were selected for the Coastal Regional
Honors Choir in Berkeley.
● CMEA Bay Section Honor Choir: 3 talented 9th graders were selected from a
massive, highly competitive audition pool.
● Marching Band Triumphs: Our Marching Band captured 1st Place at the
Cupertino Tournament of Bands—our first victory at this event in a decade!
They followed it up with a stellar 2nd Place finish at Sacramento State.
● Winter Percussion National Ranking: The Winter Percussion World Class
team traveled to Dayton, Ohio, for the WGI World Championships, finishing the
season ranked in the Top 10 nationally.
● CMEA Unanimous Superiors: The SHS Choir earned the highest possible
marks, receiving unanimous "Superior" ratings from independent adjudicators.
Professional Masterclasses & Alumni Inspiration
SMB funds structural initiatives like the SHS Concerto Competitions, bringing 5
professional adjudicators to judge student performances, with winners earning solo
spots at our seasonal concerts. We also bridged the gap to the professional world by
welcoming back famous alumni and industry heavyweights:
● Vienna Teng (SHS Alum): The celebrated singer-songwriter returned to
mentor students, share her industry journey, and collaborate directly with the
Jazz Band to arrange her piece, "The Boy at the Piano."
● Tony Glausi (SHS Alum): The New York-based professional trumpeter,
keyboardist, and composer collaborated with jazz students, wrote custom
music charts, and heavily mentored our percussion and marching ensembles.
● Chamber Music by the Bay (Jessica Chang, SHS Alum): Marked the 13th
anniversary of this incredible chamber music residency. Students participated
in rigorous workshops and performed side-by-side on stage with world-class
professional musicians.
● Ankush Bahl (SHS Alum): The Music Director of the Omaha Symphony—who
has conducted the New York Philharmonic—provided invaluable, authentic
advice on building professional relationships.
● Jay Wu Lee (SHS Alum): Professional trombone player with the Toledo
Symphony, who shared real-world insights into the life of a working orchestral
musician.
● Distinguished Clinicians: Students received focused coaching from Stanford’s
Director of Jazz, Mike Galisatus, as well as Dr. Mark Laycock and professional
brass quintet performer Dr. Lauren Casey-Clyde (Class of 2014, Seraph
Brass).
Saratoga Union School District (SUSD)
Building the Foundation of Musical Excellence
Great musicians start early. SUSD's robust musical ecosystem introduces students
to the joy of music in elementary school and refines their talents at Redwood Middle
School (RMS).
In total, the RMS music department accounts for over 400 enrolled students—nearly
2/3 of the entire middle school student body!
Enrollment by the Numbers
● 5th Grade Instrumental Program: 175 students (spanning Saratoga, Foothill,
and Argonaut elementary schools, learning both strings and wind
instruments).
● RMS Band (Concert, Woodwind, Brass, Percussion): 225 students
● RMS Orchestra: 191 students
● RMS Jazz Band: 30 students
● RMS Choir: 23 students
● RMS Color / Winter Guard: 18 students
● RMS Winter Percussion: 14 students
Real-World Classrooms: From SF Symphony to Disney
Our advanced middle schoolers benefited from incredible experiential learning
opportunities designed to map their classroom lessons to real-world professions:
● San Francisco Symphony Live Play-Along: Students attended an open
rehearsal and live performance of Pirates of the Caribbean, observing how
professional musicians perfectly synchronize live instrumentation with film
using click tracks. Sitting directly behind the stage, students noted the
performance sounded "so perfect it didn't even feel live."
● The Disney Recording Workshop: Taking their symphony knowledge to the
next level, students traveled to Los Angeles to step into the shoes of studio
musicians, participating in a backstage soundtrack recording workshop and
listening back to their own studio sessions.
Middle School Achievements & Milestones
● CASMEC All-State Honors: SUSD young musicians proved they can compete
with the best in the state, sending 10 total students to the All-State
ensembles:
○ RMS Orchestra: 7 upper strings students selected
○ RMS Band: 3 band students selected
● RMS Orchestra Performance: The Advanced and Chamber ensembles
traveled to San Francisco, delivering formidable performances at the
prestigious American String Teachers Association (ASTA) festival.
● RMS Band Progress: It was a highly successful year for our band students.
Advanced Band musicians had the exciting opportunity to play in the stands
alongside the Saratoga High School Band during a football game. Throughout
the year, sheet music was tailored for all student proficiency levels, and
dedicated instrumental coaches provided targeted, direct support. Beginning
Band students heavily mastered their method books before seamlessly
graduating to standard sheet music by the end of the year.
● RMS Color Guard & Winter Guard Growth: The competitive season officially
launched in the spring with a standout performance at the CCGC evaluations
at James Logan High School. Building upon formal Winter Guard routines
introduced just last year, the team put on fantastic performances at Fremont
High School and capped off their season at Oak Grove High School,
showcasing incredible progress from a roster filled with many first-year
members.
● First-Ever Winter Percussion Debut: Under the direction of Mr. Staab, the
newly formed Winter Percussion ensemble successfully debuted in its
first-ever NCPA competitive event at James Logan High School. Their season
culminated with a fantastic final performance at our own SMB Pancake
Breakfast Fundraiser.
● Cross-Campus Collaborations: To inspire the next generation, the RMS Choir
shared the concert stage for joint performances with the SHS Choir and Jazz
Band.
● A Popular (and Free!) Community Resource: Our winter and end-of-year upper
string and band concerts are incredibly popular community events. To
accommodate the massive crowds while keeping these performances
completely free and open to the public, the concerts were divided into two
separate sessions to ensure everyone could comfortably enjoy the music
without overcrowding the theater.
The Director's Perspective
"It makes a massive difference that our kids come into middle school with a
strong foundation on instruments starting all the way back in the 5th grade.
The continuity of support from the Saratoga Music Boosters allows us to
build a lifelong love for music, pushing our student ensembles to heights
rarely seen at the public school level."
Support Saratoga Music
The instrument coaches, custom arrangements, travel scholarships, and
masterclasses detailed in this report are funded directly through your generosity.
Help us keep the music playing for the 2026–2027 academic year!
superintendent heath rocha's japan tour
2026 farewell message to students
As I reflect on these past two weeks, I am simply in awe of you.
I am in awe of your musical talent and academic excellence. But even more than that, I am in awe of your resilience, grit, character, and the way you cared for and supported one another throughout this journey.
If I could give each of you one gift, it would be the ability to see yourselves through the eyes of those who admire you.
I wish you could fully understand how remarkable you are.
I wish you could see the strength, courage, and potential that others see in you every day. I wish you could be as proud of yourselves as we are of you.
As we return home, I hope you carry with you more than memories of Japan. I hope you carry a deeper belief in yourselves.
Be proud of what you have accomplished.
Be grateful for the journey.
And never underestimate who you already are.
I am in awe of your musical talent and academic excellence. But even more than that, I am in awe of your resilience, grit, character, and the way you cared for and supported one another throughout this journey.
If I could give each of you one gift, it would be the ability to see yourselves through the eyes of those who admire you.
I wish you could fully understand how remarkable you are.
I wish you could see the strength, courage, and potential that others see in you every day. I wish you could be as proud of yourselves as we are of you.
As we return home, I hope you carry with you more than memories of Japan. I hope you carry a deeper belief in yourselves.
Be proud of what you have accomplished.
Be grateful for the journey.
And never underestimate who you already are.
superintendent Heath Rocha's Farewell Message of Music, Friendship, and Peace from Hiroshima, Japan
Today is our final concert in a country that has captured our hearts. The places we have visited have been unforgettable, but it is the people of Japan who have transformed this experience into far more than a tour. It has been a once-in-a-lifetime journey that will stay with us forever.
We gather in a place that reminds us of humanity’s capacity for destruction. Yet through these students, we are reminded of humanity’s even greater capacity—for connection, understanding, and peace.
This afternoon, students from Hijiyama High School and Saratoga High School have come together through a language that needs no translation: music.
When young people from different countries create music together, they show us what the future can be—not divided by our differences, but strengthened by them; not fearful of what makes us unique, but enriched by it.
Tonight, may the music we share honor the past, celebrate our friendship, and inspire hope for a more peaceful world.
If peace has a sound, perhaps it sounds something like this.
We gather in a place that reminds us of humanity’s capacity for destruction. Yet through these students, we are reminded of humanity’s even greater capacity—for connection, understanding, and peace.
This afternoon, students from Hijiyama High School and Saratoga High School have come together through a language that needs no translation: music.
When young people from different countries create music together, they show us what the future can be—not divided by our differences, but strengthened by them; not fearful of what makes us unique, but enriched by it.
Tonight, may the music we share honor the past, celebrate our friendship, and inspire hope for a more peaceful world.
If peace has a sound, perhaps it sounds something like this.
