After being rescheduled due to winter weather conditions, the Stanley-Boyd Music Department hosted the 5th through 12th Grade Spring Concert at the high school gym on March 26th. Under the talented direction of Louella Derrico, Director of Choirs, and Devon Wenndt, Director of Bands, concertgoers were treated to a delightful evening of music and song performed by students in the 5th through 12th grade bands and choirs. The 5th grade band performed ‘Chorale’ by Johann Sebastian Bach and ‘Frenzy’ by David Shaffer. ‘A Shaker Hymn’ arranged by John O’Reilly, and ‘Dance Slav’ by Jack Wilds were the song selections for the 6th grade band. With friends and family in attendance, the 7th and 8th grade band performed ‘Where Words End…’ while the Stanley-Boyd Middle School Choir and 5th and 6th grade bands enthusiastically supported from the bleachers. The Middle School Choir gave three vocal performances for the night, including ‘Tongo’ a Polynesian Folk Song, ‘Oceans and Stars’ by Amy F. Bernon, and ‘Homeward Bound’ by Marta Keen and arranged by Jay Althouse.
The High Concert Choir featuring Sopranos and Altos sang “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish featuring senior soloists MacKenzie Stefanakos, Delani Mercier, and Olivia Osvold with accompaniment by Tara Kodl. The Full Concert Choir Ensemble went on to perform ‘Shenandoah’ an American Folk Song arranged by Steven Porter, ‘Stars I Shall Find’ by Victor C. Johnson, and selections from ‘Three Madrigals’ by Emma Lou Diemer. The High School Concert Band performed ‘The Gathering of the Ranks at Hebron’ by David. R. Holsinger. The selection was described by Wenndt as “a very fast paced and energy packed piece.” Sharing the background of the song, Wenndt said that “ ‘The Gathering of the Ranks at Hebron’ depicts that time in Biblical history when almost 350,000 men came together, armed for battle, determined to make David king over all Israel, eventually making the first ill-fated attempt at bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Israel, that story told in 1 Chronicles 12.”
The band also beautifully executed ‘Suite Provencale’ by Jan Van der Roost and ‘Salvation is Created’ by Pavel Tschesnokoff. Derrico explained that a few choir students performed at the Honors Festival, Solo and Ensemble, and a recent choir clinic. “A lot of them received ones which is the best rating that you can receive,” said Derrico of the choir students who performed solos or duets. As the evening came to a close, fifteen high school seniors were honored for their many years of exceptional musical accomplishments in band and choir including Olivia Osvold, Landon Dahl, Braden Winger, Tyson Shilts, Trevor Christoph, Kimberly Krista, MacKenzie Stefanakos, Delani Mercier, Andre Burzynski, Tate Derks, Riley Weltzin, Hunter White, Chloe Mossbrucker-Bates, Vaughn Schneider, and Kaddin King. As this would be their final concert performed at the Stanley-Boyd School, the students were called to the front to the resounding applause of friends and family.
