On Wednesday, November 29th, M-A’s guitar and choir classes held their annual Winter Concert for family and friends, performing a short but sweet catalog of songs.
Brooke Steele, who teaches the two classes, said, “The concert was great, and I liked working with my students. Of course—I see them every day, and it’s been a lot of fun! I’ve been teaching high school music for over a decade, and I love it.”
The night began with M-A’s choir class performing a heavenly rendition of “Down in the River.” They sang “In the Bleak Midwinter” by Stephen Rew, “Selene’s Boat” by Don MacDonald, and my favorite of the selection—a fun and fresh reimagining of “Africa” by Toto.
Choir member and junior Kirsten Trihy said, “My favorite part of being in choir is that moment when all the chords lock and everybody’s just singing their part so well. It just clicks.”
Following the choir were the guitars, who opened with “Loving Her Was Easier” by Kris Kristopherson, a calming and playful melody.
Maldonado, and Teeple perform “Here Comes the Sun”
by the Beetles
After that, an array of different guitars performed a groovy rendition of “Here Comes the Sun’ by the Beatles, which was one of my personal highlights. The variety of guitar types created a full-bodied sound that resonated throughout the PAC. Senior Colin Kuriger, who was courageously the only solo performer of the night, followed with a heartfelt rendition of “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King.
Soon after, junior Hayden Frye, Sarina Dadashi, and Matt Nicholas covered “This Town” by Niall Horan on acoustic guitars. In addition to playing the guitar, Nicholas provided powerful vocals that left the audience entranced.
“This Town” by Niall Horan
Nicholas said, “I’ve been singing ever since I could talk. I learned how to sing by watching YouTube videos of Michael Jackson when I was super young. I started playing guitar in this class, and recently, I’ve started making some of my own music.”
Students also performed several Spanish songs, which included “Intro” by Junior H and “Lamento Boliviano” by Los Enantios Verdes. Both songs were packed with vibrant tunes, and senior Carson Sanie sang with an impressive display of vocals.
Hermosillo, Ortega Rodruigez,
Soto Zaragoza, and Zertuche play Intro by Junior H
Matt Teeple, sophomore Wes Peterson, and Sanie covered Coldplay’s “Yellow” on electric and acoustic guitars, which was a calming reprieve from all the upbeat songs that had captivated the audience throughout the night.
Peterson said, “I think that music is a great way to express yourself if you can’t find the words to do so.”
Afterwards, John Niko, Danny Angel, Ivan Juarez Baez, Filipo Maalo, Andres Valencia Sanchez, and Jack Thayer on acoustic guitars performed “The Lazy Song” by Bruno Mars, filled with challenging and complex rhythms
Another group of guitarists performed “Roslyn” by Bon Iver as Deshawn Crawford exhibited a soothing and poignant vocal performance.
The night closed with “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals, a haunting blues song with an ensemble of fantastic guitarists and Trihy, displaying her impressive range and technique.
Torres Guerrero play Roslyn by Bon Iver, as Crawford sings
Administrative Vice Principal Nicholas Muys, who attended the event, said, “I think there is such tremendous potential on campus, and I want to make sure everybody has an artistic outlet. I’m so glad that people have discovered that in this program.
The event was wonderful and demonstrated the capability and talent of M-A’s renowned music programs. I can’t wait to see you all at the next concert!
