Pacific Crest & DSP Pit Share DNA
There's a strong connection between the Pacific Crest and Dark Sky organizations with many PC front ensemble vets coming to the 2016 Dark Sky season and now returning to PC for the summer DCI season. We appreciate these talented members and staff members:
ANGEL ABONZA is a 3-year vet of the Dark Sky front ensemble playing vibes for 2 and marimba in 2016. He's been a member of the Gold organization in '14, Mandarins in '15 and is performing this season with the Pacific Crest marimba line. Angel went to high school at Colony HS and is a member of the RCC Fall front ensemble from 2013-15 . . . and he's double-jointed!
JUSTIN PAGE was new to DSP in 2016. He has been a member of the 2014 Watchmen and the Pacific Crest front ensemble in 2015 & 2016 on marimba. Justin graduated from Riverside King HS and is currently attending RCC as a nursing major. If you meet him on tour, bring him his favorite food - sushi!
JV VILLARREAL is holding down the xylophone position for the PC front ensemble this summer. He graduated from Clovis West HS and is a music education major at Cal State University in Fresno. His marching experiences include the Blue Devils B in 2013 and Winterguard in 2014. He used to get paid to take high school Senior photos, but now he's probably too busy practicing!
KATHERINE (KAT) QUESADA is playing marimba in the PC pit this summer. She's a music ed major at RCC and graduated from Riverside King HS. Kat was also a member of the RCC Fall front ensemble and actually "enjoys studying music theory." Anyone need a tutor?
There is also a staff connection for Dark Sky Pit and Pacific Crest:
DALIA BERMAN went to West Ranch HS, CSU Northridge and CalArts as a percussion major. Dalia's marching arts experience includes Velvet Knights, Mandarins, The Academy, Phantom Regiment, Full Force Percussion and Pulse Percussion. Dalia is currently instructing at Hart HS, Etiwanda HS, Arroyo HS, Colony HS, in addition to Dark Sky and PC. She's a strong, creative instructor and an asset to both the PC and DSP organizations.
BRANDON AMARAL is an Applied Mathematics major who loves to play and teach keyboards. He marched at Chino Hills HS and was a member of the RCC Marching Tigers, The Academy (2011-12), Madison Scouts (2013) and RCC Indoor from 2012-14. In addition to Dark Sky '16, Brandon has taught at POW Percussion, Mandarins, Pacifica HS, Arroyo HS, Charter Oak HS and Los Altos HS and is currently working with the RCC Tigers, Diamond Bar HS, San Bernardino City USD and Chavez MS. Now that's a busy guy! Oh yea and he used to raise prize-winning budgerigars (that's a parakeet, who knew?) He should keep them safe because Dalia's favorite animal is a cheetah.
The Dark Sky team wishes the Pacific Crest organization a terrific summer of musical joy and look forward to continuing a strong relationship in the future. PC battery member profiles coming soon
Left to right: Brandon Amaral, JV Villarreal, Justin Page, Angel Abonza, Kat Quesada, 2015 DSP Vet, Conrad Alumia and Dalia Berman