On May 4, Moorpark College’s Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble held their biannual “Harmonious Journeys” concert, which showcased a slew of memorable performances. From the Moorpark College Orchestra to Grammy award-winning guitarist Andrew Synoweic, “Harmonious Journeys” had it all.

The music showcase was previously known as “A Dynamic Evening of Music.” Still, Brendan McMullin, a Moorpark College professor of music and the show’s director decided on the name change after thorough consideration. McMullin explained why they felt the name change was warranted.

“We were trying to come up with a title that was less of a description, and more a show catcher. ‘Harmonious Journeys’ makes you think a little more, it’s a mixture of harmony plus bringing people together. And ‘journey’ of course, having an emotional journey throughout the event,” said McMullin.

Those in the audience chattered in anticipation, especially three former Moorpark College Orchestra members who have since become a part of the Moorpark Symphony Orchestra and went to show support to the students.

Stephen Burch, a former member of the Moorpark College Orchestra, shared his thoughts on why they decided to attend “Harmonious Journeys.”

“We love Moorpark College, it’s where we started,” said Burch.

The Moorpark College Orchestra started the event with “Requiem, K, 62” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and transcribed by McMullin. They showcased the work put into the song transcription, giving the wind ensemble more time to shine instead of lacking a string section.

The three Moorpark Symphony Orchestra members sitting in the audience were curious about this and how it was dealt with, as they stated that orchestras are primarily strings.

“When you say ‘orchestra,’ people really think about that. You’re going to have a bunch of violinists, a bunch of violas and two or three of woodwinds…it shows a lot of creativity and a lot of hard work, and hours behind the computer punching away at notes to make the violin covered in say, a clarinet; it’s not easy.” explained Burch.

When asked about what it was like to have an orchestra without a string section, McMullin explained music’s struggle during the pandemic.

“Unfortunately, COVID hit music hard in all levels, it’s really building back up… we’re gradually growing…but as a result, in the meantime, the enrollment is working its way back up too,” he explained. “Our clarinets had to cover a lot for the violin and so I had to transcribe to move the instrumentation for what fit us,” he said.

These behind-the-scenes changes help put into perspective the amount of work that gets put into a show of this size.

During the intermission, program attendees Cyrus Lackie and Nicole Ramirez gave us their thoughts on “Harmonious Journeys.”

“[The show is] a good introduction to jazz,” Lackie explained. “I think jazz requires you to have some sort of musical knowledge to really get it, but I feel like they did a really good job of taking contemporary pieces and making it into a more jazzy style. And I think it’s a good way to kind of get started [and] dip your toes in.”

Jonah Lopez, a Moorpark College student and pianist with five years of experience, also shared his musical journey after performing on stage during the intermission.

Lopez started learning piano at Moorpark College with professor Mona Decesare. He quickly moved to a more advanced class because he loved playing. Even though he began later than others at age 24, his hard work and practice helped him learn to read music and understand music theory.

This was the first time Lopez played piano on a big stage like this. In the past, he had only played guitar with a band in smaller shows. Playing with the Moorpark College Orchestra was a new and exciting challenge for him, something he could use to further his talent.

“I have to say playing with other people is a lot different, I’m used to playing by myself,” Lopez said.

Challenging himself to play alongside the group was a valuable lesson in collaboration. It is a motivational story about stepping outside your comfort zone that can help others recognize that it is never too late to learn something new. With hard work and perseverance, anyone can achieve their dreams.

McMullin ended the night by giving great insight into why jazz is a fantastic genre to listen to and perform.

“The great thing about jazz especially is it doesn’t matter so much how good a player you are, it matters more how you say it. It’s really a conversation and so you can say a lot with just a couple notes,” McMullin said.

From the creative adaptations to the inspiring student stories, “Harmonious Journeys” proved to be a night filled with music and its power to connect us all. For future events or to learn more and buy tickets, visit the Moorpark College events page.