CBS 58 Hometowns LIVE: Summerfest
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- For some bands, Summerfest is one of many shows on a busy calendar. For groups of young students, it's a showcase they are cherishing.
CBS 58's AJ Bayatpour was on the Big Gig grounds Thursday, June 25, and he spent the morning rehearsing with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra and learned more about the School of Rock program that showcases teenage bands from six different countries.
Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra at Summerfest
Along the lakefront, there's a little stage with some big sound. Headlining 'The Lil Gig' was the steel drum bands section of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra.
One of the themes of their performance was Michael Jackson, marking the 17-year anniversary of his death.
The group, composed of about two dozen MPS students, hoped that would help draw some traffic to Northwestern Mutual Community Park stage.
"We're playing 'Don't Stop 'til you Get Enough,' one of my personal favorites," Parker Kaltenbach said. "And it's really cool for people passing by; that could just be introduced to this whole new style and genre of music they've never heard before."
Meanwhile, the School of Rock program brought nearly 600 student musicians from 54 different schools across six different countries.
The San Pedro chapter, based on Monterrey, Mexico, was back for its second straight year.
Band members said they love the scene at Summerfest, and they love spending time in Milwaukee because it's a very different climate than mountainous Monterrey.
"I really like Milwaukee. I really like Wisconsin," Mafi Sanchez said. "Downtown, I really like walking in the night and all the lights and all the big buildings. It's incredible. We don't really have a lot of things like that in Monterrey."