High school band students perform a spring concert
High school band students wowed their family, teachers, and peers with their spring concert held in Marchman Gymnasium on April 16.
The band spread out around the gym to perform “Pure Imagination,” arranged by Jeff Foster, band director, in surround sound. The song included a brass quartet featuring Christian Burns ‘25 on trumpet, Caleb Walton ‘25 on flugelhorn, senior Brady O’Shields on baritone, and Trent Hilton ‘25 on tuba. Students also performed “March Bou Shu” by Yatoshi Yagasawa, a Japanese march in the “Taiko” tradition of Japanese drumming.
“Tackling a highly diverse program including so many different styles, students got so much better. I am incredibly proud of how these students grew over the course of the school year in the quality of their sound, their technique, and within the refinement of playing as an ensemble,” smiles Foster.
Gavin Burns ‘25 and Ellie Ahn ‘27 performed “Get it!” by Gene Koshinki for flute and percussion.
“The song is exceptionally advanced, and they learned it entirely on their own. Gavin found the piece and brought it to me,” beams Foster.
The concert also included the advanced piece titled “Variations on a Korean Folk Song” by John Barnes Chance and “From the Start” by pop artist Laufrey (arranged by Jeff Foster). The percussion ensemble performed “Starfall” by Jon Velsick, which was conducted by Mark Little, director of percussion.
A professional saxophonist, Brandyn Taylor, joined the band for their performance of “Georgia on my Mind” arranged by Mike Tomaro.
“Georgia on my mind was probably the biggest challenge – most of the kids hadn’t played ‘swing’ style before, and it is at a very slow tempo which makes it even harder,” reflects Foster.
Well done, high school band students!
