001I got it. I got >> Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. >> I want it. >> You got to be kidding. >> Um >> No. >> This is what I mean. >> Yeah. >> Good evening, everyone. Thank you for coming out tonight for our March concert. There is such a quick turnaround um in a very, very busy time of year for these kids. So, we started with the new year jumping right into our choral festival with 6th through 12th grade choirs. Then, we into solo and ensemble festival. All of these students that you see here today prepared a song, whether they chose to take it to festival, that was last Saturday, or they performed it in front of the class, or they performed it in their small group. And we're still getting some of those wrapped up,
002but they are doing such a wonderful job. And it has been very exciting for me to see that. Even the ones who maybe it's not their most favorite thing to sing by themselves, but we're seeing so much growth and improvement and you know, learning more about what it takes to be a musician. Um I'm going to let the students introduce the concert um program for you guys this evening. First, I wanted to just take a second before we get started because I talked about solo and ensemble right away. Can I just see a show of hands from 6th graders who took their song to solo and ensemble festival on Saturday? Yes. Who performed in front of the class? Yes, like that is so brave. And a big round of applause to everybody who put that
003hard work and effort together. So, thank you so much. [applause] Oh, it's really in there. There you go. >> Good evening and welcome to our concert. We are the 6th grade choir. Being choir is just about showing up and opening our mouths to sing. It takes a lot of focus and energy to learn a piece of music from scratch. Our first piece is Akatombo by Greg Gilpin. It took a lot of practice to learn this beautiful arrangement of Japanese folk song about red dragonflies flying at sunset. We are proud to share it with you. >> Excellent. >> [applause] [music] [singing] [music] [music and singing] [music] [singing] [music] >> Red dragon fly >> [singing and music] >> as well as the >> [singing and music] >> sunset. Red dragon fly in the twilight [singing and music]
004sky I ride. Red dragon [singing] fly >> [music] >> as well as the sunset. [singing] Red dragon fly >> [music] >> when the [singing] day is done. >> [music] [music] [singing] >> The [music] sun at dawn and sunset. [singing] Red [music] dragon >> [singing] [music] [singing] [music] [singing] [music] [singing] [music and singing] [applause] >> One of the most important skills we learn and acquire is how to listen to people around us. To make a choir work, we have to put the team first and blend our voices together. For our next piece, we will travel to Wales. We will be singing a traditional folk song called The Ash Grove, which paints a picture of wandering through a peaceful shady forest. >> [applause] [music] >> Down [singing and music] yonder green valley, where streamlets meander, when [music]
005twilight is fading, [singing] I pensively rove. >> For at the [music and singing] right time I chanced in solitude to wander [music and singing] amid the dark shades of the [music and singing] lonely ash grove. 'Twas there a blackbird [music] was cheerfully [singing] singing, I first met that dear one, the [music] joy of my [singing] heart. Around [music] us [singing] for gladness the bluebells were ringing, ah, then [music and singing] little thought I how soon >> [music] >> we should [singing] part. >> [music] >> Still glows the >> [singing] >> bright sunshine o'er valley and mountain, [music] still warbles >> [singing] >> the blackbird its song from [music] the tree. Still rambles >> [singing] >> the brook o'er lea and [music] mountain, but what [singing] are the beauty of nature to me? >> [music] >>
006Since sorrow >> [singing] >> my >> [music] >> heart has laden, a day I [singing] ne'er go mourning in search of my love. >> [music] >> Ye >> [singing] >> nymphs and shepherds, tell me, where is the sweet [singing] maiden? She [music] sleeps >> [singing] >> in the green turf down >> [music] >> by the ash [singing] grove. >> [music] [applause] >> Getting ready a song, ready for a concert, takes weeks of practice, but putting in that hard work really builds our confidence. It feels great to master a piece. To finish our set, we're going to pick up the energy with a fun and upbeat upbeat song by Carl Hitzmann, called A Brand New Song, featuring soloists Camilla Pons and Reagan Yadron. >> [applause] [applause] [music] >> If you sing and I sing, >> [singing]
007>> the world will sing along. The music will move >> [singing] >> us and help [music] us get along. >> I can sing [music] for you. [singing] You can sing for me. We can write a perfect melody. Singing makes [music and singing] us strong. We feel like we belong. Together we [music] can write [singing] a brand new song. >> [music] >> If you sing and I >> [singing and music] >> sing, the world will sing along. The music >> [music and singing] >> will move us and help us [singing] get along. >> [music] >> We will do our part. >> [singing] >> Music [music] is a start. We can write a [singing] perfect harmony. Come and sing [singing and music] along and sing a proud and strong. Together >> [music] >> we can write a
008[singing] brand new song. We don't have to hide. With music [music] on our side, [singing] we can show the world what we [music] can do. Singing makes us strong. We feel like we belong. [music and singing] Together we can write a brand song. >> [music] >> If you [music and singing] sing and I sing, the world [music and singing] will sing along. The music >> [singing] >> will move us and >> [music and singing] >> gather we will write a brand new song. We can change [music] the world [singing] if we just write a brand new song. >> [music] [singing] [applause] >> All right, everybody in position. The first row will step down. First row. No, no, that's not right. You need to go this way. Second, I'll take you to the back for being
009patient. So, just a second. One second. Top row. >> No. Thank you. Yes. Thank you. All right. Thank you for your patience. We're missing some pretty significant bodies here in this class. So, it's going to shuffle a little bit. I have my first First reader, go ahead. >> Hello everyone. We are the 7th grade choir in the choir room. We learn a lot more than just notes and rhythms. Music is a safe space to express our emotions and teach teaches us how to support one another. We are opening our set tonight with a really uplifting piece by Greg Gilpin called Let Music Live, which is all about the joy and power of singing together. >> [applause] [music] >> It beats [music] in every >> [singing] >> heart. It breathes in every soul. >> [music] >>
010In >> [singing] >> every special moment life begins. There's a song that's [singing] waiting >> [music] >> to be sung. There's a seed that longs to grow. In everything let >> [music and singing] >> music live. It reaches out with love and gives the gift [singing and music] of hope. It calls us to be thankful for love. Note [singing and music] by note it builds a bridge uniting us to sing. In [singing and music] everything let music live. Let [music and singing] music live in the dreams of all the children. [singing] Let music [music] live, let it [singing] grow and fill our lives. >> [music] >> Let it weave [singing] throughout the tapestry of who we are. In [music and singing] all that life can give, let music live. Every [singing] heart in every nation,
011[music] all the world throughout creation, let the song [singing] in each of >> [music] >> us resound. Let [singing] it resound. Let >> [music and singing] >> music live. In the dreams of all the children. Let music [singing and music] live, let it grow and fill our lives. Let it weave [music and singing] throughout the tapestry of who we [singing] are. In all that [music] life can give. In all [singing] that life can give. In all [music] that life can give, let music live. >> [music] >> Let music live. Let [singing] music live. >> [music] [applause] >> Learning music also teaches us empathy when we when we sing. We have to figure out the feeling behind the lyrics and share that with the audience. Our next song slows things down a bit. We'll be singing
012a beautiful piece called Coming Home, which reminds us of the comforting peace we feel when we are with the people we care about most. Featuring the soloist or soloist Skyler Bierig. >> [applause] >> I have traveled sea and mountain, distant pathways [singing] I did roam. Now it's time, my friend, [music] for journeys [singing] end. I am coming [music] home. >> For my wandering [singing] now >> [music] >> has ended. So goodbye, [singing] farewell, [music] shalom. Now at [singing] last >> [music] >> I found to you I'm bound. >> [singing and music] >> I am coming home. >> Coming [singing] home. >> Coming home to [music] see you again. >> Coming home. >> Coming [singing] home to you. >> [music] >> With the stars [singing] as my guide, I'll be there at your side. >> [singing]
013>> I [music] am coming home. >> When the times [music and singing] are calm and gentle, when the [music and singing] sea is mist and foam, when [singing and music] I think of you with love so true, I am coming [singing] home. >> [music] >> Coming [singing] home. >> Coming [music] home to see you again. [singing] >> Coming home to you. >> [music] >> With the [singing] stars as my guide, I'll be there at your side. >> [music] >> I am coming home. [singing] >> [music] >> I have traveled [singing] sea and mountain. Distant pathways [singing] I did roam. Now, it's [singing] time, friend, for journeys [singing] end. I am >> [music] >> coming home. >> [applause] [applause] >> Singing in a choir teaches us self-resilience. You have to be brave enough to hold your
014own part even when the people standing next to you are singing completely different notes. To close our portion of the concert, we are performing an arrangement by Moses Hogan called Wade in the Water. This is a traditional spiritual is full of rhythm, soul, and independent parts that we have worked incredibly hard to put together. >> [applause] >> God's a-gonna [singing] trouble the water. >> Wade in the water. Wade [singing and music] in the water. Wade in the water. Wade in the water. >> Wade in >> [singing] >> the water. [music] >> in the water. >> the water. >> Wade in >> [singing] >> the water. >> [music] >> children. >> Wade >> the water. God's going [singing] to trouble the water. >> [music] >> Wait in the water. Wait in the [music] water. >> [singing]
015>> Wait in the water. Water, children. >> [singing] >> Wait in the water. Wait in >> [music] >> the water. God's [singing] going to trouble the water, children. [music] See that band all dressed in white. God's going to trouble [music and singing] the water. And it looks like an Israelite. [singing] God's going to trouble the water. Wait in >> [singing and music] >> the water. Wait in the water. Wait in the water. Wait in the water. >> [singing and music] >> Water, children. Wait in the water. >> [singing] >> Wait in the God's [music] going to trouble the water, children. See that [singing] band all dressed in red. God's going to [singing and music] trouble the water. And it looks like the band that Moses led. >> [singing] >> God's [music] going to trouble the
016water. Wait in >> [singing and music] >> the water. Wait in the water. Wait in [singing] the water. Water, children. [music] Wait in the water. Wait in >> [singing] >> the water. Oh, children God's Oh, children [music] God's going to [singing] trouble the water. >> I was like >> [applause] >> No, that was like No, no. And what's on your way for from? Wait, what? I'll tell him it's body seven. >> Welcome everyone. As an 8th grade choir, we realize that preparing a piece of music requires resilience and complex problem-solving. Um when we mess up a harmony in rehearsal, we have to figure out why, fix it, and try again. Our first piece is a challenging and dramatic. It's called Fire and Ice by Emily Crocker, based on a famous poem by Robert Frost that
017asks or that asks if the world will end in fire or by ice. >> [applause] [music] >> Some say the world [singing] will end in fire. >> [singing] >> Some say the world will end in [music] fire, in fire. >> [singing] >> Some say [music] the world [singing] will end in fire. >> Some say the world will end in fire. In fire. Some say [singing] in ice. >> [music] >> In ice. >> [music] >> From what [singing] I've tasted of desire >> [singing and music] >> I hold with those who favor [music] fire. >> [singing] [music] [singing] [music] >> I [singing] think I know enough of >> [music] >> hate [singing] to know that for destruction ice >> [music] >> is also [singing] great and would suffice. >> [music] >> Some [music] say the [singing]
018world will end in fire. Some say the [music and singing] world will end in fire. >> Some say the world will end in fire. >> [singing] >> Some say the world will end in fire. >> Some say the world [music] will end in fire. >> ice fire >> [singing] >> ice fire >> [music] [applause] >> Music also teaches us that every single person in the room matters. We learn to trust ourselves and trust each other to create something beautiful. Next, we will shift our focus to the night sky with a piece about the stars. It is a great reminder that through all hard work, we are connected together in a family of light, featuring soloist Grant and Grayden. >> [applause] [music] >> I am [singing] a voice, one voice calling out [singing] across the divide.
019[music] >> I am a heart, one heart >> [music] >> beating strong, the [singing] rhythm inside searching for the song. >> [singing] >> Seeking out the place I belong. [singing] >> [music] >> You belong. [singing] >> [music] >> Our brilliant [singing] bond of friendship, our radiant design, [music] connected [singing] in community, together we will [music] shine, a beacon >> [singing] >> ever bright, >> [music] >> our consolation. We are [music and singing] a of lights. >> [music] >> We have a [singing] home, one [music] home. >> We are a family We are a family >> [singing and music] >> of lights. >> We have a dream, our dream. >> We are [singing and music] a family We are a family of lights. [singing and music] Join us in the [singing and music] song. Welcome home
020>> [singing] >> and know you belong. >> [music] >> A brilliant bond of friendship, [singing] a radiant [music] design, connected in community, [singing] together we will [music] shine. A beacon ever bright, a constellation. [singing] [music] We are a family of [music] lights. >> In means of [music] lights >> In ways [singing] of sound we are seen. >> We are heard. [music] >> We are [singing] known. We are found. >> [singing] >> A brilliant bond of friendship, a radiant [singing] design, [music] connected in community, together we will shine. A >> [singing] >> beacon ever bright, >> [music] >> a constellation. [singing] A A a constellation, a constellation. >> [singing] >> We are [singing] a family of [music] lights. We [singing] are a >> [music] >> family of lights. >> [music] [applause] >> We have spent months
021breaking down measures, fixing vowels, and polishing dynamics to get ready for tonight. The dedication and self-discipline it takes to be a musician are skills that we carry with us for the rest of our lives. Finally, we will close the concert with an arrangement of Down in the River to Pray. This is a peaceful but powerful American folk song about gathering together to find strength. This piece features a small group of soloists that builds until it consumes the entire choir. Thank you for supporting music in our schools. >> [applause] >> Oh, he knows that regularly. That's That's a good class. That sounds okay for my little brother. It's more for you than it is for >> As I went down in the river to pray, studying about [singing] that good old way, and who shall wear
022the starry [singing] crown? Good Lord, show me the way. Oh, sisters, let's go down, let's go down, [singing] come on down. Oh, sisters, let's go down, down in the river to pray. As [singing] I went down in the [music] river to pray, studying about that good old way, and [music] who shall wear [singing] the robe and crown? Good Lord, show me [singing and music] the way. Oh, brothers, let's go down, let's go [singing] down, come on [music] down. Oh, brothers, let's go down, down in the river to [singing] pray. As I went down in the river to pray, studying [singing] about that good old way, and who shall [music] wear the starry crown? Good Lord, show me [singing] the way. Oh, fathers, let's go down. Let's go [singing] down. Come on down. Oh, >> [music]
023>> fathers, let's go down, down in the river to pray. >> [singing] >> As I went down in the river to pray, >> [music] >> studying about [singing] that good old way, and who shall wear the starry [singing] crown? Good Lord, show me the way. >> Show me the way. >> Oh, mothers, [singing] let's go down. Let's go down. Don't you want to go down? >> [singing] >> Oh, mothers, let's go down, down [singing] in the river to pray. >> [music] >> Oh, [singing] mothers, let's go [music] down. Let's go down. Come on down. >> [singing] >> Oh, mothers, let's go down. >> [singing] >> Down [singing] in the river to pray. >> [music] >> Down in the river to pray. >> [music] [applause] >> Uh before I let you go for this evening, I
024do want to take a second and recognize all of the vocalists. I didn't talk before seventh grade, so I didn't think to introduce and recognize those students who participated at Solo and Ensemble Festival. And that can be whether it's for me vocally, band, or orchestra. Can we get a little house lights, Mr. Richards? Thank you. Can I just see if you're in the audience, you can stand up. If you're up here, would you raise your hand if you participated at Solo AND ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL? WOOHOO! [cheering] >> [applause] >> NICE JOB. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I also want to recognize so how it works, there are three classes, three difficulty classes. Class C for beginners, B for intermediate, and class A for advanced. And we did have two students in middle school who we had
025several students who decided to try out some class A this year. It was very impressive. I was very very proud of all of our students. I want to take this moment to recognize the two students who will be advancing to state competition at the end of April. Alex Carroll. >> [applause] [cheering] [laughter] >> And Grant Fields. >> [applause] >> I didn't tell them I was going to do that. >> [laughter] >> And I will probably hear about it later. Thank you all so much for coming out tonight. Please enjoy the sunshine while it lasts. It's not promising, I know. Um so anyways, please have a wonderful wonderful evening. Thank you again for coming out. Thank you, Mr. Richards, for all of your help and set up.