TThe wind ensemble and chamber orchestra from Santa Monica High School is making their journey from sunny California to the rocky shores of Ireland this April! On April 9th, the group will be performing at 7pm in the Ballyroan Parish Church in the ancient city of Dublin. These skillful musicians come from a programme of highly-trained musicians, totalling up a whopping 11 ensembles with more than 250 students in the entirety of Santa Monica’s music programme.

With those kinds of numbers, it’s unsurprising that this music programme is totally familiar with making waves. They were originally formed in 1915, making it one of California’s oldest high school ensembles, known then as simply “The Santa Monica High School Band.” But the Samohi Band and Orchestra, as they’re known today, don’t stick to just their California beaches; they are proper globetrotters! From performances in New York, DC, and Chicago to making the leap across the pond to London, Rome, and now Dublin, this incredible ensemble should be on your radar.

This farewell concert, however, is made somehow even more special by the collaboration with the Rathfarnham Concert Band. Founded in 1980, this band has gone through many iterations over the decades, having now settled on simply having multiple bands! From recorder classes to senior performances, Rathfarnham Concert Band is emblematic of the community experience, giving the Samohi Band and Orchestra a warm farewell.