Southern Vance High School’s Concert Band gave its Spring Concert in the gymnasium last night beginning at 7:00 p.m.
The hour-long program of ten selections featured a wide variety of musical styles from various eras, beginning with “Festivo” by Vaclav Nelhybel and “Majestia” by James Searingen. Sophomore Tabitha Hudgins performed a trumpet solo on the latter piece.
The band continued with “A Disney Spectacular” in an arrangement by John Moss and “New York, New York” arranged by Frank Cofield.
Eighth grade students from the Henderson Middle School band joined Southern’s band to play “Engines of Resistance” by Larry Clark. Henderson Middle School Band Director Michael Capecci conducted the joint band for that piece. The combined groups also played “Cartoon Symphony,” arranged by Larry Clark, and a Japanese piece called “Taiko”, described by Southern Vance’s Band Director Bill Davies as the “Japanese version of a drum line”. That arrangement by William Windham featured a flute solo by senior Ashley Sanders.
The bands then conducted a special tribute to all mothers in the audience. As the bands played, members distributed flowers to their mothers in the audience in moments that were frequently touching. Seniors Jamiel Floyd and Ashley Sanders conducted the concert band during the acknowledgment of the upcoming holiday on Sunday.
As the band transitioned for the final three songs, Davies spoke in praise of the student members of the band. He said that although the school gets a lot of negative publicity in the newspaper that the band represents the school at its best. He stated that the band students have a lot of “heart” and that the concern represents the “positive”.
He asked the audience if anyone from the newspaper was present. No one indicated that they were.
To emphasize his point, Davies indicated sophomore Heather Holman, oboe and flute player, who participated in the concert despite a recent injury in a high school soccer game.
Davies remarks met with general heartfelt applause from the audience.
Seniors Corei Plummer and Brittany Ikner were also praised by Davies. He told the audience that they would be “hard to replace”.
The evening ended with “Song of the Matador” by Douglas Court, featuring Corei Plummer and conducted by student Darius Hunt; “Night on Bald Mountain” by M. Mussorgsky; and “Sabre Dance” by A. Khachaturian, which featured Ryan Haskins, Michael Lewis, and James Rowland.
The last selection was conducted by Brittany Ikner.