Winter Concert 2015: Band Wars
Source/Author: Ethan Updike, Band Director
December 04, 2015
On December 2, 2015, music students from grades 4-12 entertained family and friends in the Janet Root Theatre. The fourth Grade Guitars, a new program, kicked things off with "Ol’ Uncle Joe". A wider variety of fourth Grade Strings plucked the familiar "Old McDonald Had a Farm". Then the fourth Grade Winds showed off with "Hot Cross Buns" and "Mary Had a Little Lamb".
Next, the Fifth Grade Band took the stage, blending winds and strings for the first time! They played a bit of "Monuments" by Sean O’Loughlin.
The Middle School Band proved they have been practicing diligently when they picked up the tempo with "Jupiter" from Holst's "The Planets". With a nod to the season, they beautifully pleased audiences with Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite Petite".
The Upper School Concert Band reprised their Fall Showcase performance of "Peter and the Wolf" and then surprised everyone with the theme from "Game of Thrones".
Recently dubbed The Swish, the Middle School Wednesday Rock Band brought the house down with a rendition of Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love".
As another echo from Fall Showcase, junior Holly M tinkled the keys with her usual understated perfection to Debussy's "Golliwog’s Cakewalk".
Suddenly, the theatre went dark and a familiar theme played. On a large screen, audiences quizzically watched the trailer for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens". Through a fog of smoke, out stepped 'Darth Updike' - as Mr. Updike led the Upper School Concert Band through the "Star Wars" main title theme in a Darth Vader mask and with a lightsaber as his baton. The crowd went wild! Welcome to the 'arts side'.
[Video]
More photos here.
Next, the Fifth Grade Band took the stage, blending winds and strings for the first time! They played a bit of "Monuments" by Sean O’Loughlin.
The Middle School Band proved they have been practicing diligently when they picked up the tempo with "Jupiter" from Holst's "The Planets". With a nod to the season, they beautifully pleased audiences with Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite Petite".
The Upper School Concert Band reprised their Fall Showcase performance of "Peter and the Wolf" and then surprised everyone with the theme from "Game of Thrones".
Recently dubbed The Swish, the Middle School Wednesday Rock Band brought the house down with a rendition of Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love".
As another echo from Fall Showcase, junior Holly M tinkled the keys with her usual understated perfection to Debussy's "Golliwog’s Cakewalk".
Suddenly, the theatre went dark and a familiar theme played. On a large screen, audiences quizzically watched the trailer for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens". Through a fog of smoke, out stepped 'Darth Updike' - as Mr. Updike led the Upper School Concert Band through the "Star Wars" main title theme in a Darth Vader mask and with a lightsaber as his baton. The crowd went wild! Welcome to the 'arts side'.
[Video]
More photos here.
