Foothill High alums, Amador Valley jazz musicians holding benefit concert tonight

Brothers Johnny and Alex Orenberg will join with the Amador Valley High School jazz band and its instructor Mark Aubel at 7:30 p.m. tonight for a music-filled benefit concert at the Firehouse Arts Center to raise money to support the arts in Pleasanton schools..

“A Crazy Little Thing Called Love” is the second benefit concert that Johnny Orenberg has performed with Amador Valley’s jazz band — the first came two years ago, and after skipping 2015, the Orenbergs are back and hope to make it an annual event going forward.

“In 2014, the show was called ‘Here’s Johnny,’ which reflected more of my own journey, but this year is called ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love,'” said Johnny, a Foothill High graduate like his younger brother Alex. “My brother and I have always loved different kinds of music, and the show is truly a reflection of what music means to both of us.”

The brothers initially approached Aubel with the benefit concert idea in hopes of giving back to the music programs in Pleasanton while also showcasing their talents.

“We heard that Mr. Aubel was involved with a nonprofit organization called PSEE, Pleasanton Schools Education Enrichment Foundation, and we knew we had to collaborate with him,” Johnny said. “It was a dream of ours to give back to the music programs in some way.”

The PSEE Foundation helps support music and arts programs throughout the Pleasanton Unified School District.

“I am always looking to raise funds to help support the district music program, and this benefit concert was in that same effort,” Aubel said.

All of the proceeds from Thursday’s performance will go to Pleasanton schools, but primarily to elementary schools, according to Aubel.

“It will go to all schools in the district, but a majority of the proceeds will go towards the repair of band and string instruments from the elementary schools,” he said.

Johnny, 32, and Alex, 27, were inspired to perform the benefit concert after their own positive experiences in the music programs in Pleasanton.

“Alex and I benefited from the music and drama programs when we were students in the Pleasanton schools, and that propelled us to our future professions,” Johnny said.

Johnny is a professional singer and actor, and Alex is a frequent musical performer at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore.

The Orenberg brothers will be singing classic standards from Frank Sinatra, contemporary pieces from Michael Buble, Broadway show tunes and other popular songs during the concert next week.

The PSEE Foundation will sponsor the event, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Firehouse Arts Center in downtown Pleasanton. For tickets and other information, visit www.firehousearts.org/events.