REV students hit high notes at All-State performances

Redlands East Valley High School’s performing arts department has recently represented San Bernardino County in two areas, sending two students to the state level for choir and band.

REV French horn player Aviv Poliva picked up his chosen instrument two years ago after band director Brian Hollett realized there were some gaps in the band. As students graduate, the band needs rebalancing, so Hollett asks students if they are willing to try a different instrument. After years of playing the flute and mellophone, Poliva was game. It turned out to be a great decision.

Poliva represented REV—and all of San Bernardino County—at the All-State Band performance last month. While the process was long, the payoff was worth it. “It was really cool,” he said. “I got to play with some kids who are beyond talented.” He was “humbled” to be among those musicians.

Poliva said the group, made up of students from across California, practiced for three days, six to seven hours a day. They also listened to performances from some of the musicians conducting the rehearsals before culminating in their own performance for family and friends.

“Aviv is one of the hardest-working kids I know,” said Hollett. Poliva hopes to continue studying music in college, with Northwestern at the top of his dream school list.

On the choir side, Aiden Gonzalez represented REV and Redlands Unified when he was selected to join the All-State Choir. The audition process includes multiple facets, such as sight-reading music and recording himself singing the notes he hears. This is the third year Gonzalez has been selected for the All-State Choir; he was not in choir his freshman year.

Gonzalez, who sings bass two, prefers old gospel songs such as Deep River, but the song that carried him through regionals was a German piece.

“Regionals was really cool,” he said, noting that it’s held at the University of Redlands.

He’ll soon be auditioning for Cal State Fullerton at the request of Dr. Istad, a professor there. Steven McCann, REV’s choir director and a Cal State Fullerton attendee, said Istad heard Gonzalez and wanted him in his program. Gonzalez plans to continue with music, aiming to become a high school music teacher.