EDITOR’S DESK: Coronado musicians do us proud
In last November's District 11 bond issue was a line item calling for a larger auditorium (at a cost of $1,350,000) at
Coronado High School.
![]() The bond issue lost, but before our eyes (and ears) this school year the school's two prominent musical programs have been melodically proving that if a new auditorium ever is built, it will be money well spent. It's useful to bear in mind, when discussing these matters, that music is not all that different from sports in high school. If students are gifted as well as dedicated, who can blame them if they choose modern schools with (in the case of musicians) perfect acoustics, art-friendly curricula and large new auditoriums? Yet here we have Coronado High School - with its tiny, raggedy auditorium (lighting and sound repairs were also in the bond issue) and without an inordinate arts budget - turning a into a musical heavyweight. This year especially. First it was orchestra director Dan Mayes with seven All-State selections and a win-everything competition in California. Then Coronado's choir students, directed by Jeff Hodur (a 1996 CHS grad), landed 12 All-Staters; and, just last week, they won every first place singing against national competition in Washington, D.C. According to Mayes, Coronado's reputation has grown to where top-level student musicians actually permit in to the school, not out. This is, to use another sports comparison, like one of those low-budget baseball teams knocking off the New York Yankees... after their players all turned down higher salaries to play for the richer club. Which is a nice underdog thought, but imagine how these kids would swing (musically, I mean) in a big, new auditorium. - K.J. |