Funding the future: Celebrate the Music 2026
The sound of music drifted across Belmont as student performers tuned their instruments and families gathered for SchoolForce’s annual Celebrate the Music event.
The event took place on April 26, showcasing talents from the Carlmont String Bonanza to the University of California (UC), Davis Marching Band — with performances running across three stages from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Beyond the music, attendees could explore booths from local organizations, including the Belmont Water Dog Run, enjoy food trucks, and watch robotics demonstrations from students across the district.
Celebrate the Music has been an ongoing tradition for 22 years. Initially titled “Save the Music,” its purpose was to gain the community’s support as a result of a failed parcel tax that threatened to eliminate music from the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District (BRSSD) elementary schools entirely.
Now, it serves as a way for the community to come together and highlight music programs across the district.
“It just shows the power of community, and the wonderful things that investing in our future can do for our kids,” said Ardythe Andrews, the executive director of SchoolForce, a volunteer-run nonprofit organization that fundraises for all BRSSD schools to sustain excellence in education.
This year, however, marked a new chapter, as the event took place at Ralston Middle School rather than its longtime home at Twin Pines Park.
“We’re really excited to bring it in-house at one of our district schools and celebrate the amazing things our kids do,” said Dan Deguara, the BRSSD superintendent.
According to Ying Gonikman, a Celebrate the Music volunteer and former president of SchoolForce, the move allowed community members to see firsthand the music programs at BRSSD schools. It also helped integrate the event more closely within district schools.
“We would like to emphasize our school community and showcase our music programs,” Gonikman said.
This year also marked the first time the event was free to attend, opening the celebration to anyone in the community.
“Without SchoolForce, we wouldn’t have this festival today. Their support ensures that our kids have amazing programs,” Deguara said.
While Celebrate the Music draws in hundreds of community members each year, the event itself is not a fundraiser.
According to Akshara Vittalam, a SchoolForce student ambassador and sophomore at Carlmont High School, the program relies on the community to both organize and sustain itself.
“It’s almost entirely volunteer-based because it’s a nonprofit,” Vittalam said. “They basically contribute to all of it.”
According to Gonikman, it takes months of planning to put together the festival, and it’s very expensive. Even though the event is sponsored by corporations like Oracle and local businesses like Jacklyn Kurth Orthodontics, donations from families are still extremely important.
“It’s not a fundraiser. It’s mainly for awareness,” Gonikman said. “When parents understand the value of what the school does for their kids, we hope that they’ll turn around and become our donors.”
The music programs that the festival celebrates are funded through two primary sources: SchoolForce parent donations and Proposition 28, a state arts and music funding measure.
“Because of the funding we have and because of Proposition 28 dollars, we can do this,” said Matthew Aguilar, a music teacher for elementary schools Central, Fox, and Cipriani.
But that funding faces increasing pressure, with BRSSD facing deficit spending amid ongoing discussions about middle school closures. According to Andrews, since they voted to keep all middle schools open, parent donations will play a more central role in funding the music and arts programs.
“It doesn’t impact the student’s day-to-day,” Andrews said. “But what we do need to do is make sure that people are donating so that that doesn’t happen.”
Most things funded by parent contributions are what excite kids, according to Andrews.
“Music, art, school counselors, science, libraries — all of that is only possible through fundraising,” Andrews said.
At its core, Celebrate the Music is about supporting music programs within schools. Student musicians like Miranda Wacker, a member of the Carlmont Symphonic Band, appreciate the opportunity to make music at school.
“I compose just for fun, and it’s nice to have a creative outlet within school,” Wacker said.
A similar sentiment regarding learning music from a young age and in school is echoed by BRSSD art and music teachers like Alison Baxley.
“Art is a human thing: the ability to create is uniquely human. We all need to figure out from a young age what it is that helps us be creative,” Baxley said.
Aguilar and Michaela Donofrio, pre-K through third grade music teachers at BRSSD, both also found music at a young age.
“When I was a kid, music really changed my life, and I want to make sure I pass that on to these kids,” Aguilar said.
Music teaches students the ability to experiment and gain confidence in other aspects of life, according to Aguilar. Donofrio also said that music gives students an avenue to try new things.
Parents also attended the festival to watch these students perform. Peter Nguyen, the father of a Carlmont choir and jazz band student, is among them.
“Music is great for the soul. It fulfills you in a way that just being in academic classes does not,” Nguyen said.
Whether they are students, parents, or teachers, many people agree that music provides a unique creative outlet.
“They are all student-somethings, and the student part always comes first. But the something is probably why your kid comes to school,” Andrews said.
BRSSD students weren’t the only musicians featured at the festival.
Celebrate the Music features musicians of all ages, from young students to senior members of the West Bay Community Band.
Daria Shkolnik, a violinist and member of Carlmont’s choir, spoke on the diversity of age groups performing.
“I love how there are elementary schoolers here and kindergartners,” Shkolnik said.
Shkolnik has been involved in music since she was around the same age as many of these younger musicians. She has been singing and participating in small choirs since she was five, and took up the violin in fifth grade. Now, she is one of the older musicians whom younger ones can look up to.
“Performing here is a wonderful way to connect with the community,” Shkolnik said. “The younger kids get to see the older kids perform and have an idea of where they are going.”
The final performance of the day was a Battle of the Bands between musicians from Carlmont, UC Davis, and Stanford University. Brianna Snyder, a 12-year trumpet player and member of the Stanford band, was one of the musicians who participated.
“Music is the cornerstone of my life. I love music, not just playing it but also listening to it. I probably have a playlist for everything. It is just everywhere, and I love it,” Snyder said.
Sarah Lazureanu was on the other side of the battle, representing UC Davis.
“My favorite part is how music can connect people. Like the fact that we are all in band for this shared interest is super cool, and the range of diverse people that I get to meet,” Lazureanu said.
