M-A Orchestra and Band performed at the Spring Concert, showcasing a diverse and captivating selection of music in the PAC on Tuesday night. The Concert Band, Jazz Band, Jazz Ensemble, and Orchestra played exceptionally, highlighting student musicians’ talent and practice throughout the year.
The Concert Band began the show by presenting John Williams’ “Superman,” arranged by Bob Lowden. The triumphant brass-driven song was a crowd favorite and successfully raised the audience’s energy and expectations for the night. “Ride the Wind” by Douglas Court came after, filling the room with bright and playful rhythms led by the brass and percussion sections. The band followed with a rhythmically intense piece called “Crush,” composed by Robert Smith. The Concert Band then closed with a bubbly and catchy rendition of “Soda Pop” from the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack.
Music Director William Flaherty paused between each group’s performance to recognize the music program’s dozen seniors.
The Jazz Band then made their way onstage and opened with “Blues for Mr. B” by John Edmondson. The classic blues piece was soulful, rich, and a great way to start the set. The band transitioned to Earle Hagan’s hauntingly beautiful ballad “Harlem Nocturne,” arranged by Rick Stitzel. Bold and distinctive, “Libertango,” written by Astor Piazzolla and arranged by Paul Murtha, followed before leading into Michelle Fernandez’s spirited “Bravito!”
In all of the music groups, the members worked together cohesively. The instruments blended together to create a masterful symphony. “As a group, we’re pretty strong, and we’ve had all year to bond and learn and talk to each other,” senior and bassist Crystal Winikoff said. “The concert went pretty well.”
The Jazz Ensemble followed immediately after. They performed “Nutville” by Horace Silver and arranged by Bryan Kidd, which powerfully and vibrantly sounded throughout the PAC. “When You Wish Upon a Star” by Ned Washington and Leigh Harline was one of the audience’s favorites, featuring senior Kealy Bryman whistling and singing. “Trofeo de Bolos,” written by Craig Skeffington, was infectious and highlighted every senior in the Jazz Ensemble with a solo. “Everyone played well, and everyone that had a solo really nailed it,” senior guitarist Sebastian Nielsen said.
For Burton Lane and Jay Lerner’s “On a Clear Day,” arranged by Darmon Meader, junior Calvin Blanford and Bryman indulged the crowd in a duet portion highlighting their powerful vocals. The Jazz Ensemble finished with “Symphony 40 in G minor,” which was authored by Wolfgang Mozart and arranged by Gordon Goodwin. The musicians were cheered offstage while the stage crew set up for Orchestra.
The Orchestra started strongly with Carl Maria Von Weber’s melancholic “Clarinet Concerto #2 2nd Movement,” a composition that showed off the talent of the clarinetists. Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s dramatic and deeply romantic “Romeo and Juliet Overture,” arranged by Jerry Brubaker, came next, with M-A musicians beautifully capturing the famous love story in a song. They followed with Mozart’s “Concerto for Flute and Harp, 2nd Movement” and then performed “Pines of Rome – Finale,” written by Ottorino Respighi and arranged by Stephen Bulla. The Orchestra chose the transcendent “Piano Concerto #2, 2nd Movement,” composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff, for the last song of the night.
It took a lot of practice to put on the show. “We did a lot of work in the rehearsals,” freshman David Shin said. The musicians practiced nearly every school day for months.
The Spring Concert was an exceptional culmination of M-A Orchestra and Band’s successful year.
