Oakland Tech Presents
Two Centennial Events
by Julie Parker, PTSA communications
Oakland Technical High School presents two centennial year events to be held in our beautifully renovated auditorium at 42nd Street and Broadway.
100 Years...88 Keys: Invocation for a New Century at Oakland Tech
Saturday, January 17, 7:30 p.m. — 9 p.m.
Concert pianist Daniel Finnamore plays selections from Liszt, Debussy, Ravel, and Satie to showcase Oakland Tech’s secret jewel, our fully restored 1917 Steinway Grand Piano. Purchased by Oakland Tech in 1917, the piano eventually fell into disrepair. During the auditorium renovation campaign, the class of 1961 sponsored a fundraiser led by Camille Reed that provided $25,000 to bring life back to the soundboard and strings.
Daniel Finnamore grew up in Oakland, and has taught hundreds of students to love the piano. He specializes in romantic expressions of the 19th and 20th centuries. The concert also features a ballet performance by senior Deon Oddone, of Nutcracker doll fame, and an original multimedia prose poem by local writer/artist and PTSA president Kristen Cavent.
The PTSA offers this event in recognition of all the volunteer efforts supporting this historic school. The cost is $20. Purchase tickets online or at the door.
Technites Past and Present Talent Showcase Sunday
February 8, 2 - 4 p.m.
presented by the Oakland Tech Parent Emeritus Club
With its rich drama, dance, and music programs, Tech has provided generations of Technites a chance to explore their artistic side, and many have continued the passion they developed at Tech. The Showcase brings past and present Technites onto the stage to tip their hats to Tech, and to wish it well on its second 100 years.
Featured performers include big band era singer Marv Tripp (Class of 1943); Forbidden City (a famous night club in San Francisco’s Chinatown) dancer Estelle Young Kelley (Class of 1948); tap dancer Michael Grbich (Class of 1950); poet Mai-Lou Gittelsohn (Class of 1951); Oakland Ballet dancer Omar Shabazz (Class of 1989); current Tech teacher and drummer Patrick Friedman; and current Tech student singers, dancers, and musicians.
There will be surprise performers and scenes from the play “99 Years,” created two years ago by Tech students based on interviews with former Tech students and staff. The play is a lively tour through some key moments in Tech’s history, with the actors speaking the exact words recorded in the interviews. The talent showcase is also a fundraiser for Boost, Tech’s after-school peer tutoring program. Boost offers peer tutoring to provide extra academic support.
The price of admission for this event: $10 for adults and $5 for students. Purchase tickets at the door on the day of the event.
