Students, families, and staff members gathered on May 20 at Arcadia High School’s (AHS) POPS concert to honor the memory of Orchestra Council member junior Jiarui (Aaron) Dai after his passing due to an unexpected medical incident. The evening celebrated Dai’s love for music and the Orchestra community.
Through performances, speeches, and slideshows, the Orchestra family came together to celebrate Dai’s love for music and the Orchestra family that meant the world to him. Before the performance began, audience members watched a slideshow featuring photos of Dai’s life and the time he spent in Orchestra with his classmates and friends.
According to Orchestra Director Ms. Pin Chen, Orchestra was more than just an activity for Dai.
“He loved serving the Arcadia Orchestras and just being a part of this music-making family,” Ms. Chen wrote in a Google Classroom post sent to the Orchestra members.
Ms. Chen shared that Dai often spent time in the Orchestra room after school and deeply enjoyed serving as an Orchestra Council officer. The day before his passing, Dai had found out that he would be able to continue in his leadership role.
“He would hang out in the Orchestra room after school most days, and he thoroughly enjoyed playing in Orchestra and serving as an Orchestra Council officer,” recalled Ms. Chen. “He was just saying yesterday that he was going to miss updating the calendar, and his face brightened up when I told him he could run for Directors’ Assistant again.”
As the evening continued, students honored Dai through speeches, tributes, and the spirit of the concert. During the opening speech, Ms. Chen described Dai as “vibrant and full of life,” remembering the pure joy and energy he brought to the Orchestra family.
“He just absolutely loved playing music with his friends,” Ms. Chen said. “He loved the Orchestra family.”
Students also included details throughout the evening that reflected Dai’s personality and passions. Some musicians wore Mark Wood shirts and jeans in remembrance of his love for violinist Mark Wood, who was known for his rock-style string performances. It also paid a tribute to their first Fall String Concert, celebrating the energetic, fun, and loving person Dai was.
“We wanted to make this celebration of Dai and help his spirit live on,” Ms. Chen said during the concert.
Throughout the night, students filled the Performing Arts Center (PAC) with sounds of heartbreak, comfort, and support. Premier Orchestra performed pieces including “The Mandalorian” by Ludwig Gorranson; “Your Idol” by Andrew Choi, Neckwav, Danny Chung, Kevin Woo, and Samuel Lee; “Too Sweet” by Hozier; and “Creep” by Radiohead. String Orchestra performed “Lover Girl” by Laufey, a student-arranged “Toho Rhythm Carnival,” and “I Got Rhythm” by George and Ira Gershwin. Concert Orchestra later performed selections from The Incredibles, Pink Panther, and Howl’s Moving Castle, followed by Symphony Orchestra performances including “Havana” by Camilla Cabello and music from My Neighbor Totoro.
“Performing was definitely hard, but I think because we all wanted to play our best for Aaron, we ended up having one of our best performances as far as I can remember,” senior and Orchestra Council president Cathleen Lu said. “It was an honor to both experience and witness our love for someone who contributed so much to Arcadia Orchestras and everyone in the program, and it was during these days when I was reminded just how strong and united our orchestra community is.”
During the concert, Arcadia Unified School District Board of Education member Mr. Raymond Cheung also addressed the audience, sharing his deepest condolences to Dai’s family, friends, and Orchestra family.
“We are here to celebrate Arcadia Orchestra, celebrate a love of music, and of course celebrate Dai’s love for Arcadia Orchestra and music,” Mr. Cheung said.
Mr. Cheung also shared that the Board of Education would dedicate its next meeting in honor of Dai’s memory.
The concert concluded with Symphony Orchestra’s performance of “Die With A Smile,” retitled “Dai With A Smile” in Dai’s memory. As students performed the final piece, a slideshow displayed photos from Dai’s life and his three years at AHS, showcasing the moments he shared with his closest friends, classmates, and parents.
Ms. Chen described the piece as representing the importance of being surrounded by the people you love, dedicating their final song to Dai and the positive impact he left on everyone’s lives.
“Orchestra was home to him, and many of you loved him like a brother, as he did with you,” said Ms. Chen.
Despite the process and struggle of Dai’s loss, the evening reflected the resilience and support of the AHS Orchestra community. Through music, students and families honored a classmate by remembering his kindness and love for the Orchestra family he deeply cared about.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DCI
