Bridgewater-Emery Showcases Its Musical Talent
By Mercedes Mesman on May 8, 2018
This year’s spring concert was held April 23 at 7:00 p.m. in the new gym. It was held the same night as the senior expo, but despite this fact, it was still a rousing success for all of those who participated.
The middle school band started the program off with a bang. Their pieces included “Bridges” by Alan Lee Silva, “Salvation is Created” by Pavel Chesnokov arranged by Brown and “The Force of Fire” by Aric Branchfield.
The high school band took over and performed the following three songs: “O Magnum Mysterium” by Morten Lauridsen arranged by Reynolds, “The Eternal Optimist” by Ed Huckeby as chosen by the senior band members and “Curtain Call” by John Wasson. The last song was requested by a student who had traveled as a part of the Midwest Music Ambassadors in a tour of Europe over the summer.
“I thought it went really well. My mom said that it went really well, and [that] she really enjoyed the last song of the band,” sophomore Ashley Martinez said.
Both the middle school and high school bands are directed by Garret Olson.
“I think the concert went very well. We had a couple of people who were a little nervous, especially in the high school, being a little more exposed and playing confidently. Overall, I was very happy with how it went,” Olson said.
To start off the choral portion of the evening, the middle school sang three songs. They sang “Fireflies” by Adam Young arranged by Mark Brymer, “Say Something” by Axel, Vaccarino and Campbell arranged by Alan Billingsley and “Truly Brave” by Sara Bareilles, Jack Antonoff, Steinberg and Kelly Clarkson arranged by Mac Huff.
“I think it went really well. I was very proud of the kids and the job that they did. They worked really hard this year, and I couldn’t be prouder of them,” director Tracy Gilliland said.
The concert concluded with five performances by the high school choir. They performed “Famine Song” by VIDA arranged by Matthew Culloton, “Can You Hear?” by Jim Papoulis arranged by Francisco Nunez, “Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles, Jeffrey Bhasker, Alex Salibian, Tyler Johnson, Mitch Rowland and Ryan Nasci arranged by Mark Brymer and “Try Everything” by Sia Furler, Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel Eriksen arranged by Paul Langford.
The middle school and high school choirs are directed by Tracy Gilliland.
The high school students who take music full time also came out with a surprise performance of “Do You Hear the People Sing” by Claude-Michel Schonberg lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer. They specifically requested the song after watching “Les Miserables” at the end of the first semester.
Music programs are an essential part of any school system. They allow students to express themselves and develop new skills through music. Whether it is through band or choir, students are able to find what works best for them. Concerts are a way for the students’ families and community to experience all the hard work they have been doing throughout the school year.
The middle school band started the program off with a bang. Their pieces included “Bridges” by Alan Lee Silva, “Salvation is Created” by Pavel Chesnokov arranged by Brown and “The Force of Fire” by Aric Branchfield.
The high school band took over and performed the following three songs: “O Magnum Mysterium” by Morten Lauridsen arranged by Reynolds, “The Eternal Optimist” by Ed Huckeby as chosen by the senior band members and “Curtain Call” by John Wasson. The last song was requested by a student who had traveled as a part of the Midwest Music Ambassadors in a tour of Europe over the summer.
“I thought it went really well. My mom said that it went really well, and [that] she really enjoyed the last song of the band,” sophomore Ashley Martinez said.
Both the middle school and high school bands are directed by Garret Olson.
“I think the concert went very well. We had a couple of people who were a little nervous, especially in the high school, being a little more exposed and playing confidently. Overall, I was very happy with how it went,” Olson said.
To start off the choral portion of the evening, the middle school sang three songs. They sang “Fireflies” by Adam Young arranged by Mark Brymer, “Say Something” by Axel, Vaccarino and Campbell arranged by Alan Billingsley and “Truly Brave” by Sara Bareilles, Jack Antonoff, Steinberg and Kelly Clarkson arranged by Mac Huff.
“I think it went really well. I was very proud of the kids and the job that they did. They worked really hard this year, and I couldn’t be prouder of them,” director Tracy Gilliland said.
The concert concluded with five performances by the high school choir. They performed “Famine Song” by VIDA arranged by Matthew Culloton, “Can You Hear?” by Jim Papoulis arranged by Francisco Nunez, “Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles, Jeffrey Bhasker, Alex Salibian, Tyler Johnson, Mitch Rowland and Ryan Nasci arranged by Mark Brymer and “Try Everything” by Sia Furler, Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel Eriksen arranged by Paul Langford.
The middle school and high school choirs are directed by Tracy Gilliland.
The high school students who take music full time also came out with a surprise performance of “Do You Hear the People Sing” by Claude-Michel Schonberg lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer. They specifically requested the song after watching “Les Miserables” at the end of the first semester.
Music programs are an essential part of any school system. They allow students to express themselves and develop new skills through music. Whether it is through band or choir, students are able to find what works best for them. Concerts are a way for the students’ families and community to experience all the hard work they have been doing throughout the school year.