A Night On Broadway: OBD 2026!

On Feb. 22, the Arcadia Orchestras hosted its 31st annual Orchestra Benefit Dinner (OBD) with an exciting change of venue at the elegant Hilton Hotel! With the theme “A Night on Broadway,” the evening took center stage with show-stopping string performances, a stellar multi-course dinner, and overall a stunning night. From overture to finale, the Arcadia High students delivered a standing-ovation-worthy performance!

This year’s OBD welcomed distinguished guests from across Arcadia, including Mayor Eileen Wang and numerous administrators from Arcadia Unified School District, reflecting strong support from both the city and district leadership. Also attending was the Arcadia Fire Chief Chen Suen, who joined students in the grand finale, adding to the night’s collaborative spirit. The program was hosted by acclaimed composer Richard Meyer and was further elevated by special guest performances from vocalists Dylan Thomas and Sarah Salazar.

Opening the evening,  select student ensembles set the tone during check-in. Alongside his group members Timmy Sun, Neo Lau, and Miu Mori who played a violin medley from Mamma Mia!, senior Connor Liu reflected that the experience was “very nerve-wracking” as it was his first time playing in a room filled with guests. Later in the program, Connor returned to the stage to perform Astor Piazzolla’s Winter with seniors Neo Lau, Ethan Hung, Zachary Zhou, and Nathaniel Lim, giving a sense of the group’s musicianship during the dinner program.

After guests finished dinner, a number of chamber groups took the stage to present their musical talents. Pieces ranged from Quartet in F Major by Maurice Ravel to Arabian Nights by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken.

To bring the evening to a close, all 230 of Arcadia’s orchestra students filled the room for a grand finale featuring selections from beloved Broadway productions, including The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Les Misérables by Claude-Michel Schonberg, and Wicked by Stephen Schwartz. The performance offered dinner guests a truly memorable experience, showcasing the dedication of every AHS orchestra student who spent months rehearsing and memorizing in preparation for this culminating moment.

Senior violist Isaac Leung shared, “My favorite part of the night was being able to play in the finale with my section.” He added that “it was such a pleasure to conclude my high school experience with my peers at A Night on Broadway.”

The evening was a smash hit! It all wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing support of the Arcadia communities and guests, along with the hard-working parents, volunteers, and staff! Join us next year for another eventful night at OBD 2027: I Love The ‘90s, as we take a BLAST to the past!