170 Students Bring Audience to Its Feet in Milestone Performance

Most performances on the Ruth Finley Person stage at LBC feature a band of a few to maybe a dozen musicians or a solo comedian. Posada Navidena might involve 20 or 30 dancers over the course of a performance, and a family show might appear with larger-than-life-sized mechanical puppets whose heads hover close to the rafters.

This past spring, however, a performance of unprecedented scale and complexity set it apart from almost any performance in LBC history, perhaps matched only by a production on the magnitude of the Santa Rosa Symphony Pops, for example.

170  Children. One Performance.

On May 22, 170 young musicians and dancers from LBC’s Mariachi Ensemble and Ballet Folklórico programs marked a milestone moment when they stepped into the spotlight for Voces y Pasos (Voices and Steps): A Cultural Celebration, sponsored by State Farm Insurance Agent, Natasha E. Perez. For the first time, these free afterschool programs took their place on our big stage for a ticketed event, delivering an exhilarating, professional-caliber performance that honored the vibrancy and depth of Mexican cultural traditions.

Guided by LBC Music Specialist Matthew Isais Bowker, the Mariachi Ensemble brought together students ages 8 to 19 from across Sonoma County. Their music—completely memorized and performed live—wove together technical precision, expressive artistry, and deep cultural pride. The Ballet Folklórico program, led by instructors Victor Ferrer and Vanessa Carillo, added visual brilliance, with dancers in grades 5–12 performing in dazzling traditional costumes that moved with color and energy across the stage.

“This performance represents the heart of LBC, creating opportunities where young people feel seen, celebrated, and empowered through the arts,” said Rick Nowlin, President and CEO. “It took vision, teamwork, and incredible dedication from our staff, teaching artists, volunteers, and parents. We are deeply grateful to our donors for supporting these programs, which this year culminated in such a powerful and joyful experience.”

Number of Moving Parts: Staggering

Producing Voces y Pasos involved coordinating the 149 musicians, 149 instruments, 30 dancers, hundreds of costumes and seven  costume changes in a program that featured 15 musical arrangements and 14 choreographies – all executed with tightly managed backstage logistics and split-second transitions. A few numbers involved all 179 students filling the stage with a breathtaking presence.

Matthew described the experience as one of the most challenging and rewarding of his musical career. “I never thought I’d be helping put together an hour-long show with live music from this many students,” he said. “But the results exceeded my expectations.”

Behind the scenes, the effort to bring Voces y Pasos to life was nothing short of heroic. On the night of the performance, coordinating students across multiple groups and backstage spaces required careful planning and seamless teamwork from six ECE staff, six teaching artists, and countless volunteers. Grouped and regrouped for the different performances, the students’ whereabouts had to be monitored every moment, especially when they were not on stage.

“Imagine a delightful chaos that defied expectation and created a whirlwind of backstage energy that stretched belief and still vibrated with joy,” said Ashleigh Worley, Director of Education and Community Engagement. “It was an experience most of these children will remember for the rest of their lives as the day they pulled off a performance bigger than most professional performances and brought the audience to its feet.”

“The elevated stakes of a ticketed event raised the bar for everyone involved, setting a new standard for performance within our programs,” she said.

“The kids knew what was at stake,” Matthew added. “They pushed each other, stayed focused, and gave everything they had.”

Thanks to the generosity of our donors and sponsors, participation in these programs remains free for families, with all equipment and costumes provided. Voces y Pasos was more than a show. It was a statement about why arts education matters so deeply.