Music department prepares final performances of year

Monica Clark/Staff Writer

As the school year winds down, CFHS bands, choir and orchestra will be saying goodbye to the year with their final concerts.

The orchestra will be having it’s concert on Thursday, May 14 at 7:30 in the auditorium. They will be playing “Concerto for Oboe and Strings” by Camarosa featuring four-year All Stater Elise Berry on Oboe, “St. Paul’s Suite for Strings” by Gustav Holst,  a piece by Gabriel Faure featuring four-year All Stater Olivia Hahn and “Edmont Overture” composed by Beethoven.
Regarding how the orchestra has improved throughout the year, director Scott Hall said, “I think the balance within the whole orchestra. By that I mean all sections playing together with sound balance. The students are great players, and it has been a fun year of great music making.”

Like a lot of CFHS teachers, he will be missing the seniors that have contributed so much to the orchestra.

“They have taught me a lot. Commitment, dedication (and) service. The orchestra will miss the graduating class,” Hall said.

Gerald Ramsey, director of the Wind Symphony Band, will be conducting “Radiant Joy” by Steven Bryers and “Of Sailors and Whales” by Francis McBeth. Kyle Engelhardt, director of the Symphonic Band will be, conducting “Undertow” by Mackey, and “Variations on a Korean Folk Song” by John Barnes Chance. Both of these concerts will be on Tuesday, May 19 at 7:30.
Kendra Wohlert, the choir director, also has an exciting concert lined up.

“Each ensemble will perform an exciting variety of repertoire from Latin motets to a cotemporary Venezuelan dance piece. Each ensemble has its own distinct sound and personality and that really comes through on a concert. This is also the special ‘goodbye’ concert for our seniors. We have a special presentation for them that is really memorable,” Wohlert said.

Wohlert also enjoys the great improvements they have made this year.

“The students’ voices have certainly matured, and their musicianship skills have improved a lot. We work on sight reading all year long, and it’s fun to see how far we’ve come by the end of the year,” Wohlert said.

Although the seniors will be leaving, she looks forward to next year and the new students that will be coming in.

“I always look forward to meeting my new sophomore students in the fall and watch my returning students grow into their new ‘status’ as junior and senior members of the choir. I’m also looking forward to adding a Junior High and Senior High All-City Festival Concert to next year’s schedule,” she said.

The choir will be having their concert on Monday, May 18 at 7:30.

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