By Kristen Applebaum, Staff Writer
Every year, the music departments at FFHS get a chance to show off their talent at the spring concert. The orchestra, honors choir, chorus, jazz band and concert band have been practicing for months to find the perfect sound. The concert will take place Wednesday (May 9) at 6 p.m. in the auditorium.
Band Director Bob Ebert has compiled three pieces from a variety of genres for the concert band to perform.
“It’s a pretty good cultural experience, especially given the stuff that we’re playing,” Ebert said.
The band will be presenting traditional African tribal music in “Africa: Ceremony, Song and Ritual” as well as some American compositions in “Shenandoah” and “Arkansas River Ramble.”
Sophomore trombone player Hopelyn Kovacs believes that the music departments deserve appreciation and support from peers for their hours of hard work and practice.
“Just like the sports players practice and get a good turnout, this is our one-shot game that we practice all year for and I feel like people should come out and give us a chance,” Kovacs said.
The trombonist is especially thrilled for one of the band’s three songs, “Africa: Ceremony, Song, and Ritual.”
“ ‘Africa’ is a very wild ride, so be prepared to get your socks knocked off!” Kovacs exclaimed.
Choir and orchestra director John Buford has decided to stick with a theme this year and focus on songs from popular movies. Buford prefers to use a particular theme when choosing music because it helps him explore different styles.
“Hunting and finding just the right piece that fits the choir is a nice challenge and I enjoy doing that because when you find the right song and match it to your ensemble, it just works very well,” Buford said.
The honors choir will be singing cinematic pieces such as “Soul Bossa Nova” from “Austin Powers,” “Another Day of Sun” from “La La Land,” “Hallelujah” from “Shrek” and “Moon River” from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” The Nighthawk chorus will continue the theme with songs heard in “Pitch Perfect” and “The Greatest Showman.”
For senior Joey McNamara, this year’s spring concert will be more bittersweet than previous ones because it symbolizes the approaching end of performances and joyful times spent with the honors choir throughout high school.
“Mr. Buford just has the personality that brings out everybody else’s happiness and it brightens up my mood in the mornings because he is so cheery all the time,” McNamara said.
Senior Brooke Kelly has similar feelings about the upcoming concert. She will miss the companionship found in spending time playing in the band with some of her closest friends for the past four years.
“I’m very sentimental, so it’s really upsetting because I love spring concerts and showing all our families what we work so hard for, but it’s going to feel good once we finally get it done,” Kelly said.
Musicians in the orchestra have an extra commitment since their only time to rehearse is before school every morning. For students such as junior bassist Grace Hook, however, the early mornings are always worth it.
“We’re a group of people that get up early every morning so it’d be nice to come appreciate us and have a good time,” Hook said.
Buford kept up with the cinematic theme for the orchestra as well, which will be performing arrangements from “Titanic,” “The Wizard of Oz” and “Schindler’s List,” featuring solos from sophomores Emmy Trivette and Tara O’Neil.
Hook believes the orchestra is typically underestimated when people think about the fine arts; however, these musicians work exceptionally hard to give the music they perform a special sound and personality.
“With strings you get to see a program that isn’t really represented in our school that much and it’s kind of forgotten when people mention fine arts,” Hook said.
After the action inside the auditorium ends, music fans will get a treat with the honors jazz band ending the night by playing some funk, rock and Latin charts in the rotunda.
Junior Kristen Applebaum can be reached at applebaumkr0910@daretolearn.org.
