On Saturday, May 24, 2025, the APISU (Asian Pacific Student Islander Union) Heritage in Bloom Festival took place at the Yorba Linda High School Forum Theater. It featured many talented voices across the entire PYLUSD district. The festival celebrated Asian Pacific Islander culture with performances, events, and hands-on activities, allowing everyone to immerse themselves in various Asian cultures.
Festival:
The night began with the Valencia-based band Vinalia (@vinaliaband) performing “Meri Kanhani” by Atif Aslam and “Let Me in Your Heart” by Wendy Wander. Their performance opened the event to full bloom, with voices carrying from Pakistan and India to Taiwan. Then, Kjiwon (@k.jiwonnn) hit the stage, delivering her emotional cover of 눈,코,입 (EYES, NOSE, LIPS) by TAEYANG. Her emotions transcended the boundaries of language to tug at the heartstrings of the entire audience.
After Kjiwon, it was Quarantet (@quarantet_), a string ensemble that delivered moving pieces, keeping the audience attentive and engaged. This was followed by VHS TAAL (@vhs.taal), an Indian dance group that performed traditional dance with a good mix of humor. Then, it was the Songbird Quartet (@songbirdquartet) who delivered a fun variety of pieces from Divertimento in D to Kung Fu Fighting. Next, Alisa Chang (@a.l.i.s.a.c) sang 雪落下的声音 (“The Sound of Snow Falling”), the theme to the hit Chinese drama 延禧攻略. After, Zahnel (@Z4hn3l) took the stage, giving us a look at her guitar skills with her cover of “Basket Case” by Green Day. The performances concluded with Timothy Yune & the Goon Platoon first introducing us to a couple of dad jokes before delivering their rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “Cherry Wine.”
The festival then took on a new shape with the many booths outside the theater that offered a variety of tributes to Asian culture, ranging from freshly brewed matcha to henna drawing. There were numerous ways to interact with and experience Asian Pacific Islander (API) culture at this festival, making it feel like a little API sanctuary in the middle of Yorba Linda.
Interviews:
Sophie Yang (10): Co-Lead Vocalist and Guitarist of Vinalia
When asked why she began music, she responded that “My music career started when I was at a very young age. When I was 5, I learned piano, and then, as I grew up, I found that piano wasn’t truly my passion, and then I discovered guitar.” She started Vinalia, originally Sterotint, with her close friend Kirbie Oliver at Valencia High School and has since grown it to its current state. She was then asked what she appreciated most about her API history, to which she responded that “As someone who’s born in America, I was never quite in touch with my culture, though I did have a deep appreciation for the culture. I think performing in this festival helped me to appreciate the culture more, as one of the songs I sang was Taiwanese.”
Suchi Upasani (10): Co-Lead Vocalist and Guitarist of Vinalia
When asked why she began music, she responded that “My entire family is very music-oriented. My parents and my sister both sing, so I’ve been around music from a young age. When I was eight, my parents told me to play the guitar, and I stuck with it ever since.” She was then asked what she appreciated most about her API history, to which she responded that “I love my history and my culture, so I was excited to sing a song in Hindi for this festival.”
Kjiwon (11): Independent Singer/Songwriter
When asked why she began music, she responded that “I got into music when I was 3 years old when my parents turned on a Korean band, and ever since then, I followed along singing, and every single day I practice.” She was then asked what she appreciated most about being part of the APISU, to which she responded, “APISU made me feel more comfortable being in my culture and being able to express it with people who also like to share the same culture.”
The APISU Heritage in Bloom festival was one of the best cultural events of the school year, featuring talented performers, engaging activities, and a celebration of Asian Pacific Islander (API) cultures within the PYLUSD school district.
