Burlingame High School's chamber orchestra is one of seven in California selected for the 2027 state festival hosted by the California Music Educators Association.

The ensemble will perform Friday, April 30, at the Green Music Center on the Sonoma State University campus in Rohnert Park. The venue's Weill Hall seats 1,400.

The selection follows a strong stretch for the BHS music program under Music Director Kyoko Yamamoto. The chamber orchestra earned a unanimous superior rating at the CMEA Bay Section Band and Orchestra Festival on Friday, April 10, meaning every judge scored the group "superior" across multiple categories. That rating qualified the orchestra to apply for the state showcase, which also required submitting performance recordings and judges' commentary.

The Burlingame B, the student newspaper, first reported the selection on Monday, Sept. 14.

"I'm really really lucky to have them. They're incredible musicians to begin with, and they're incredible people," Yamamoto told The Burlingame B.

Junior violinist Shonna Foo called the news "pretty exciting," saying the orchestra proved it could compete at a high level among dozens of qualified ensembles statewide. Foo said focused rehearsals will be the difference.

"We just have to put in the effort," Foo said.

The chamber orchestra's selection is the latest achievement for Yamamoto's program. At the 37th Folsom Jazz Festival on Jan. 24, the BHS Jazz Ensemble won first place in Division 1A, competing against more than 100 middle and high school jazz bands from California and Nevada, according to a San Mateo Union High School District memo. The BHS Vocal Jazz Ensemble placed third out of 17 vocal jazz groups at the same competition.

The CMEA State Band and Orchestra Festival featured 16 total ensembles across all categories in 2026. Applications for the 2027 festival are closed. Ticket and attendance details for the April 30 performance have not been announced.