Welcome to the 2025 Battle Of Rock Bands! It has been an amazing to see the students get to know each other, learn some songs together, and now break into small groups and share their passion and skills with each other! The groups this year have really set themselves up for success by preparing ahead of time, practicing, and using the time in class to their advantage. I have NO DOUBT that this is going to be the best Battle Of Rock Bands we have every hosted!
Before we begin I just wanted to personally thank all of the families that have supported our students and program up until now. We have had the most donations to the program and therefore been able to provide students with the best possible equipment and coaching we have ever had. THANK YOU! You will see the rewards from this support in the joy the students show on the stage and the clear sounds they are able to make with the amazing equipment we can provide for them based on the donations.
While this is a competition we hope that you support all of our groups as they have come such a long way! The voting will be taking place on Instagram at our page - @phs_instrumental_music - and will be based on the most "likes" the students clips get tonight. Please feel free to share the videos to get them as many likes as we can get! Voting will be cut off at 10 pm, so start sharing as soon as they get posted!
We hope you enjoy yourselves and encourage you to say hi to the people around you! It is because of people like you that we feel confident live music will never be replaced and love the community of music lovers in Irvine!
Thank you for joining us!
-Mr. Traska and the PHS Instrumental Crew
We are the Arnold County/Dance Club. We specialize in advanced technique for rocking the house and putting on a show. We're extremely excited to engage in a hypothetical discussion of music and its intricasies on the stage and through song. We were formed by our forefathers many a moon ago for highbrow performance and in depth discovery. We can't wait to impress you.
We're Oleja: a group of dedicated students from Portola's studio music program. We have curated a mix of head-banging and soul-wrenching music that's sure to engage even the hardest-hearted listeners. On vocals, we have Leia, a fun-loving and friendly singer and member of color guard, and Jaiden, a laid-back yet hardworking member of many of Portola's music programs. On bass, we have Ayushi, a talented multi-instrumentalist who was ready to offer whatever the group asked of them. Our guitarists are Ethan and Jibreel, two passionate musicians who help add flair, style, and flashiness to the setlist. Finally, we have Oliver, the master of disaster, percussion, and music production, on drums. Together, we: Oliver, Leia, Ethan, Jaiden, Jibreel, and Ayushi, form OLEJA!
We are Synapsis! A Socal based cover band of high schoolers! We love music that will either get the crowd up and running or singing along slowly! We not only bring the energy with our music but through ourselves as a band! Our bassist Roi gets deep thuds in songs out so our crowd can feel the rhythm of the songs, our singers Audrina and Nicole carry the songs along and harmonize, our drummer Martin strikes his cymbals and snares harshly though well coordinated, and finally our guitarists Sammy and Ethan (and Nicole who is singing and playing guitar!) who lead the main rhythm of songs! We can't wait to be on stage and win the crowd over!
We’re a six-member band made up of musicians from Portola HS, each of us at a different stage in our musical journey. Some of us are still figuring things out, while others have been playing for years. But what brings us together is our shared love for music and putting on an unforgettable performance. We have Colby on lead guitar, John Chen on rhythm, Kaden on bass, two percussionists, Sharavan and Maika, who will be alternating between different instruments such as the synth, and Max on the mic. We play a variety of songs ranging from the '80s to the '10s, and that's how we got our name.
Events like tonight would not be possible without the support and assistance of our parents and families. We would like to thank Lee Chhen Stewart and the full PHS Music Booster Team for making all of this possible!
If you are interested in joining our team we are always looking for more help! Email our president - Ms. Lee Chhen Stewart - at musicboosterportolahs@gmail.com.
Infrared is a five-piece rock band hailing from Portola High School, bringing the raw energy and nostalgia of 90s rock to a new generation. Fronted by powerhouse vocalist Lisa, the band features Yuming driving the beat on drums, Ethan shredding as lead guitarist, Arthur laying down groovy basslines, and Arya keeping it tight on rhythm guitar. With a shared passion for the grunge, alt-rock, and punk sounds that defined a decade, Infrared delivers electrifying performances that channel the spirit of bands like Deftones, Soundgarden, and Radiohead proving that good rock never goes out of style.
Originated in the Portola High School Music program, our group consists of Sawyer as a lead guitarist, Logan as a second guitarist, Austin as a singer, Bryan as a drummer and Jason as a bassist. Our band name was inspired by the Deftones album "Ohms". Featuring the 90's grungy and pop punk style, we are ready to bring back the nostalgia vividly through iconic songs and setlists.
We are BC/CW, a group of 5 members from Portola High School, who share an interest in music. We have Yeeun Ryu and Wes Rappelhofer on Vocals, Jeremy Zhao on Bass, Joe Wainwright on Lead Guitar, and Josh Xu on the Drums. Our name is inspired by the rock band AC/DC.
Hello! We are a 5-member rock band based in Orange County, CA, aiming to deliver unforgettable performances.
Similar to how dinosaurs went extinct from an asteroid, our protocol is to bring in DESTRUCTIVE energy and absolutely WIPE OUT the audience with our own asteroid. From explosive Britpop to moody alternative rock, our sound delivers to a wide range of audiences.
Our asteroid is forged of Derrick Fang on vocals/rhythm guitar, Dylan Castro on drums, Ethan Martin on lead/rhythm guitar, Tyler Jo on lead/rhythm guitar, and Jackson Anthony on bass.
When the asteroid hits, it doesn't fade. It leaves behind a shockwave that never stops raging.
We are a group of student musicians from Portola High School in Irvine: Sarah Jazz on vocals, Dylan Hong and Apollo Jaan on guitars, Leon Berrios on bass guitar, Qianlin (Mary) Su on keys, and Evan Hong on drums. From heavy head-banging songs to funky jams, we are capable of captivating crowds with a diverse range of music.
We are Ultraviolet, a band of high school guys excited to bring the heat with our awesome, engaging setlists enjoyable for all. Starting off we have our two brilliant bassists and keyboardists Sebastian and Evan, both classically trained pianists with a decade of experience. Next, we have our radiant rhythm guitarist Dom, who dove into the world of rock by connecting with his father. Our stellar singer Kevin came to America from China a year ago, rocking the stage like a pro frontman with his radiant persona. Our dazzling drummer Hayden is a stalwart guardian of tempo who makes sure everyone’s on time. And last but certainly not least, our luminous lead guitarist Elliot is sure to make the audience go mad with his fire guitar riffs and amazing solos. Together, we’re excited to bring a vibrant show to our audience and leave them stunned by our ultraviolet brilliance.
Music continues to be alive and well in Irvine, and that is in no small part thanks to patrons like YOU! Without an audience our music wouldn't have the same meaning and our program would not be as healthy and vibrant as it is. We truly enjoy seeing such a variety of students and musicians in our program and are grateful for the opportunity to provide them a space to share their art and passion with the public. Thank you for coming!
We would also like to thank Mr. John Pehrson, Jen Ochsner, Amy Paulsen, Brandon Emery, and Steven Chai for their support throughout the year, Mr. Leo Diego and the facilities staff for keeping our spaces clean and facilitating the evening, Ms. Samantha Sanford and the tech students for their work and facility usage, Mr. Adrian Rangel-Sanchez for the undying support, Mr. Kearci Thompson and Grace Fang for assisting in the art for tonight, Mr. Andy Marshall for running our sound, and our coaches Nathan Nguyen and Luke Thomas for all of their support throughout the year.
For more information about our upcoming events make sure to follow us on Instagram at @phs_instrumental_music and check back at our website, www.phsmusic.org to save the dates!