Vista Murrieta Alumni to be Featured at Year-End Concert

Two alumni will return to join Vista Murrieta High School's Instrumental Program, The Golden Alliance, for its final concert of the year Friday.

The concert will feature the program's top concert bands, the Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony. Special guests Garrett Karlin (tuba) and Miles McAllister  (trumpet) are both 2007 graduates of Vista Murrieta.

Karlin and McAllister went on to study music, both recently earning bachelor's degrees from the University of Redlands.

Karlin has been a member of the Golden Alliance staff since 2007. Although he is a classically trained musician, Garrett has a passion for the marching arts and has coached at several Southern California high schools, said Christy Reichenbach, a spokesperson for The Golden Alliance.

In addition to coaching high school sections, Karlin teaches a private studio of 14 low-brass students who have played in some of the most prestigious honor groups in California, including the California Band Directors Association All-State Bands and the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, Reichenbach said.

As a performer, Karlin is a member of the Redlands Symphony Orchestra and has been a repeat performer in master classes given by Gene Pokorny of the Chicago Symphony. Garrett has a bachelor's degree in tuba performance from the University of Redlands and will be attending the University of Colorado at Boulder in this fall to pursue his master's degree, Reichenbach said.

McAllister, 22, is a trumpet player who studies with David L. Scott. He recently graduated  with bachelor's degrees in music performance and managerial studies. McAllister received the Director's Award, a full-tuition music scholarship, Reichenbach said.

As winner of the university's concerto competition, he soloed in March with the Redlands Symphony Orchestra. He took second place in the Antelope Valley Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition this year and was a finalist in the University of Redlands' concerto competition in 2009 and 2010, Reichenbach said.

McAllister has received awards at the University of Redlands and has performed in the university's student brass quintet and faculty brass quintet. In 2005, he won first place in the Inland Valley Symphony Young Artist Competition. He is the son of Murrieta Mayor Pro Tem, Doug McAllister.

The concert starts at 7 p.m. Friday, June 3, in the Performing Arts Center, 28251 Clinton Keith Road in Murrieta. Admission is $5.