CONCERT BAND

Conducted by Mike Major

Program

The Cauldron

Composed by Mark Lortz

Mysterious and powerful, The Cauldron invites listeners on a musical journey through an ancient ritual of transformation. Inspired by folklore and the imagery of a bubbling vessel of magic, this piece blends dark harmonies with fiery intensity and swirling motion. Shifting colors in the orchestration evoke swirling smoke and crackling flames. The piece concludes dramatically, leaving the audience wondering—has the spell been cast, or has something unpredictable been unleashed?

Pranks of the Pesky Poltergeist

Composed by Timothy Loest

It's the middle of the night and all is calm.  Suddenly, a creaking noise cuts through the silence. What could it be? Is the house settling? Is the wood of the grand staircase contracting due to dryness? Or, is it something else? Could it be a pesky poltergeist pulling some pranks?

The German word poltergeist means "noisy ghost." Considered mischievous or malicious spirits, poltergeists have been blamed for unexplained noises, leaping or levitating objects, or other paranormal events. Such reported ghostly activity has included slamming doors, scratching sounds from behind walls, and even overturned furniture.

While some individuals claim that poltergeists are responsible for paranormal activities, others ascribe such activities to natural phenomena or human hoaxes. Whatever the cause, an unexplained noise in the middle of the night can be quite disturbing.

Pranks of the Pesky Poltergeist musically depicts a variety of supposed paranormal sounds, set against the backdrop of spooky, thematic material. 

Personnel

Flute

Analeigh Casiano

Hannya Fuentes Mendoza

Katherine Luciano

Pamela Salazar Bacho

Clarinet

DaMarco Henderson

Stacey Hernandez

Giovanni Munoz

Elias Pedraza

Arianna Quintanilla

Alyson Zurita

Alto Sax

Kyler Diaz

Aylin Munoz

Isaac Perez

Bri Vergara Ramos

Trumpet

Jose Sarabia

Horn

Christian Herrera-Diaz

Trombone

Dannie Araujo

Daniel Cuevas

Jackson Hart

Valerya Mendoza

Damian Romero

Euphonium

Dulce Ayala-Gonzalez

Ayden Papillon

Tuba

Ayden Dover

Ari Mancini

SYMPHONIC BAND

Conducted by Kayla Reeves

Program

Night Fury

Composed by Carol Brittin Chambers

Night Fury is intended to portray a mythological time period, full of adventure and excitement. You may very well envision dragons, castles, and other legendary creastures as you are taken on an energetic journey. When asked about Night Fury, the composer said, "I have been greatly influenced all my life by movie soundtracks and the great film score composers. My goal for this piece was to create an epic-sounding, fast-paced composition playable by young musicians." It is likely that the composer sought inspiration from the popular Disney Pixar movie franchise How to Train Your Dragon, which featured a mythological, rare dragon species called the night fury.

Creepy Crawlies

Composed by Michael Story

Whether you love 'em or hate 'em, they're everywhere.  We're talking about bugs, and Creepy Crawlies is a tribute to those insects.  The trumpets playing on their mouthpieces represents the buzzing of an annoying bug, and the foot stomp depicts his demise.  The return of the main "bug" theme shows that although you can get rid of one pest, you can't get rid of them all!!

Personnel

Flute

Nidia Aguilar

Kiana Arango

Micah Cochran-Alvarado

Bianca Lopez

Sebastian Ruano

Bassoon

Mariam Ahmed

Anna Gonzalez

Clarinet

Aubrey Aguallo

Rose Andrade

Lilyana Fuller

Katalynna Gonzalez

Amy Hernandez

Lenndy Hurtado

Fernando Luna Cardona

Zaria Perry

Alanna Serna

Bass Clarinet

Ivan Guardiola

Alto Sax

Stephany Chavez

Je'Marean Edwards

Kataryna Finney

Julian Trevino Hernandez

Tenor Sax

Angel Torres

Bari Sax

Levi Gutierrez

Trumpet

Justin Garcia

Miriam Lopez

William Rodriguez

Christopher Ruiz

Derek Salazar Sarceno

Salvador Virrueta

Horn

Levi Buentello

Yaneiry Castillo

Mason DeLeon

Candy Vallejo Trejo

Trombone

Mattias Garcia Mesa

Kamille Jackson

Julie Lopez

Angel Mendoza Jauregui

Leticia Morales

Euphonium

Pepe Gonzalez, Jr.

Camrin Jones

Jason Moo

Jacob Osterhoudt

Jorge Suarez

Roger Tijerina

Tuba

Joaquin Alvarez

Jordy Figueroa Castaneda

Percussion

Abigail Castaneda

Trevor Layson

Millan Robles

Sarah Ruiz-Medina

Ty'Tiana Walker

HONORS BAND

Conducted by Mike Major

Program

Little Goblin Dance

Composed by Michael Cotten

Scholars have debated for years on the origins of goblins and goblin behavior. Once such puzzling behavior studied is that of the Little Goblin Dance. Resembling a waltz, the Little Goblin Dance is a ruckus dance in 3 with a rondo like form. It is theorized a lone goblin watched a high society ball in the 17th century and brought the dance back to their malignity (the scientific name for a group of goblins). Regardless, we can observe the modern day structure of the dance for clues about goblin culture and ceremony.

The dance starts out bold with everyone getting into position around the campfire. With a the pause in measure 7, the crowd stills as a single goblin takes measured steps to officially begin the dance at measure 12. Measure 12 - 20 represents the principal theme of the dance, with all participating, recurring with slight variation at measures 28, 56, and 84. At measure 20, a break-off group of light goblins performs the first episode featuring an intricate dance with agile footwork as noted by the woodwind accompaniment. We return again to the principal theme at 28 which after, at measure 36, the heavy goblin warriors respond to the light goblins with their own dance, signaling the second episode. This initiates a short call and response between the two groups before the percussionists at measure 52 signal the return for everyone t o begin dancing together again at measure 56. Measure 64 begins the last call and response of the light and heavy goblins before they join together in a final statement o f the principal theme at measure 84. Measure 97 is a final outburst from the goblins, swinging each other around wildly as the dance comes to a close. At measure 102, the goblin who initially began the dance gives a final back and forth step to signal the official end o f the dance, leading to a large cheer from all who participated and watched!

Ghosts of the Lost Ship

Composed by Tyler S Grant

Ghosts of the Lost Ship was written to tell the story of buccaneer naval warfare.These credo-driven pirates are known throughout history for their attacks on Spanish ships and coastal towns in the Caribbean Sea during the 17th century. The work opens with an unusual aleatoric section that creates the sounds of a buccaneer ship as it sails to combat in a dangerous rainstorm. The ship then slowly coasts into enemy territory in an attempt to be unseen. Once spotted, the buccaneers are forced to adjust the sail and race toward the enemy to engage in intense warfare. After a short and successful battle, they must quickly make their way to land and invade the Spanish towns engaging in sword combat and murdering many in the village. As the chaos cuts loose, the mighty buccaneers regroup and take flight from the Spanish territory. The ending leaves us questioning whether or not the buccaneers escaped unharmed. One thing is for sure, the ghosts linger to this day, haunting the many seas and all who pass through them.

Personnel

Flute

Celeste Casas

Madison Lucas

Ki'moryha Martin

Kimberly Pantoja-Ojeda

Allison Reyes

Oboe

Estephany Martinez Ovalle

Alexandria Zachery

Clarinet

Sophia Constanza

Sahir Diego

Jackelyn Garcia

Juliette Licea Marrufo

Katherine Lopez

Samuel Ramos

Peyton Risker

Franco Soria

Bass Clarinet

Melissa Morales

Dylan Soto

Alto Sax

Isaac Rivera

Jose Rodriguez

Luis Vazquez

Joseph Woodard

Tenor Sax

Alma Espinoza

Bari Sax

JuanCarlos Garza Iracheta

Trumpet

Joshua Alejos

Estrella Guerrero

Ashley Nolasco

Alexander Pasillas

Sofia Perez

Oscar Torres

Horn

Erick Carrillo

Kaitlyn Hernandez

Erik Stephens

Jayden Zamarripa

Trombone

Santiago Escalante-Molina

Lailah Etter

Yoseline Gomez

Quintin Hoston Jr.

Salvador Lucio Jr.

Ismael Mendoza

Emily Nolasco

Andrew Sandoval Hernandez

Euphonium

Miguel Perez

Tuba

Kristian Dial

Alberto Miranda-Vazquez

Sebastian Moreno

Aaron Olguin

Santiago Osorio

Percussion

Jordan Butler

Vanessa Escobar-Rivera

Mathias Espinoza Ortiz

Jordan Palmer

Follow us on Social Media!