Winter Concerts

Music: it is all around, in stores, at festivals, in cars, in the most obvious and festive or most subtle way. Songs, melodies, harmony, they are all part of our lives. Our school knows this, and is why HBW is home to our close-knit music program, consisting of the 5th Grade Band (White Band), 6th Grade Band (Maroon Band), 7/8 Grade Band (Gold Band), Jazz Band, 5th Grade Chorus (HB Voices) and 6/7/8 Grade Chorus (Acoustics). 

Recently, these music programs played their first concerts of the year. Here’s everything you need to know about them.

The Bands and their music

Our school is home to 4 bands, each of whom try hard to collaborate and learn music starting on the first days of school and performing in January. Our band teachers, Mr. Michalowski and Mr. Wise, also worked hard to choose music, sometimes arranging it themselves, and teach it to students in the best ways possible.

The 5th Grade Band, or White Band, led by both band teachers, had their first concert in January, playing three pieces of music suited for growing these beginner musicians.

Beethoven’s Ninth by Ludwig van Beethoven, arranged by Paul Lavender

Conquest by Brian Balmages

Three Note Blues by Dan Halpern

The 6th Grade Band, or Maroon Band, led by Mr. Wise, has many members already in a second year of music at HBW. Their hard work has made these four pieces into a dazzling concert.

The 7/8 Grade Band, or Gold Band, presents the most intricate and complicated concert band music in our concerts. They have definitely worked well to master these complicated four pieces.

Coney Island Rag by Scott Watson

Lullaby for Band by Robert W. Smith

Wild! by Kurtis L. Bertauche

New World Symphony by Antonín Dvořák

The Jazz Band at HBW is a very elite group of musicians selected by audition, consisting of 6/7/8 graders who play a different, more jazzy style of music in these three songs.

Hit The Road, Jack by Ray Charles

Evil Ways by Santana

Mercy, Mercy, Mercy by Joseph Zawinul

The Choruses and their music

HBW is home to two choruses, who also worked hard to learn and even memorize their music from September to January. Mrs. Hamilton, the Chorus teacher, also works to organize these students into the joyful singers that performed in the concert and dazzled audience members.

The 5th Grade Chorus, or HB Voices, sang at their first concerts in January. They worked to master their first performance of multiple-part music in three songs.

Seize the Day from the musical Newsies

Dance Upon the Moon by Michael Jothen

Walk Through Life by Pinkzebra

Mrs. Hamilton says “Even thought this group is small, they overcame challenges, harmonized well, and were strong singers.”

The 6/7/8 Grade Chorus, or the Acoustics, is a large group of musicians and the most advanced chorus in the school, mastering long and complicated music to inspire the audience at the concerts in these three songs.

Seasons of Love from the musical Rent

True Colors by Cyndi Lauper

Na Na Na by Pentatonix

Mrs. Hamilton says that “Whether it is bringing fun to the audience, or singing acapella and staying in tune, this group does very well in being expressive and telling the story of the song.”

The Concerts!

All of the work the musical groups do is leading up to their concerts, which is of course the focus of this article! 

The first in-school concert took place at HBW of January 8 around 9:00 am, with the Gold Band, Acoustics, and Jazz Band performing, and many students, teachers, and a few parents watching. 

The second one took place the next day at the same time, with the performers being the 5th Grade Band, HB Voices, and Jazz Band.

The in-school concerts are a chance for students to perform for their peers, which is a very hard thing to do in some respects. These concerts are often structured for non-music students to join the program, and many do. The evening concerts took place the next week, and were held at the Verona High School due to the very large audience of family and friends of the musicians.

The first concert, at 7:00 pm on January 14 consisted of the 5th Grade Band, HB Voices, and Jazz Band. It is often structured this way to encourage and inspire 5th Graders to audition for Jazz Band the next year.

The second concert, held at the same time the next day, consisted of the Maroon Band, Acoustics, and Gold Band.

Spring Concerts?

This isn’t the end of Band and Chorus concerts for this year, though! The spring performances will have even more elaborate music that will captivate the audience even more! Mrs. Hamilton hints that both Choruses have something “extra special” planned in their music. Mr. Wise also suggest that his music will have something to do with an old-time telegraph, a catchy foot-tapping march, some old folk music, and a superhero theme song. The Gold Band will have 4 songs more elaborate than ever, the 5th Grade will have three wonderful ones too, and the Jazz Band will be playing an astonishing FIVE songs! Whatever the concert music may be, though, it will certainly spread music, in its many forms, into the world.

Until next time, Stay musical!