by K.J. Lincoln
The Bethel Regional High School Music Department regaled the crowd with an evening of band, choir, and solo music performed by Director Mr. Carlson and the talented student musicians of BRHS.
The BRHS Winter Concert took place on December 13, 2016 at the WarriorDome. Friends, family members, and community members enjoyed an evening of song and instrumental pieces and also a chance to mingle during a brief intermission.
The High School Choir opened the concert with Pass It Along!, My America with vocal duos by Jeremy Brink and Damon Oscar, Simple Gifts, and My Heart Will Go On (Love theme from “Titanic”) with a beautiful flute accompaniment by Suzi Twitchell.
Traditional folk songs (Hot Cross Buns, Go Tell Aunt Rhodie, and Lightly Row), followed by a medley of nursery rhyme tunes (Merrily We Roll Along, the ABC Song, and Polly Wolly Doodle), and a festive holiday Jingle Bells was presented by the Beginning Band.
The Junior High Advanced Band performed Kum Bah Yah, The Cold Wind, and Folk Songs From Around the World. They concluded with Jolly Old St. Nick Plays the Trombone Rag with trombone soloists Shayne Afcan, Cameron Dock, Arthur Heckman and Kahliel Martin.
Clarinetist Lauren Charles performed Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, Op. 21 Scene Finale for the evening’s instrumental solo special.
The High School Band played various excerpts from Michael Sweeny’s Silverbrook, While By My Sheep – a traditional German Carol, and Carl Strommen’s Cumberland Cross. The final performance included the heartpounding theme from Star Wars – Duel of Fates. The band showed skill and precision in this piece, transporting the audience into the lightsaber battle scenes from the Episodes I-III. The theme from “Jurassic Park” swept the audience through the lush green foliage of the island of Isla Nublar. For the finale, the band closed with the high-flying over the trees theme from E.T. Extra Terrestrial.
The evening finished with the audience joining the choir with singing the beloved “Home for the Holidays”.
Acknowledgments and appreciation were expressed to Principal Edward Pekar, Assistant Principal and Activities Director Dr. Doug Boyer, and BRHS and LKSD Faculty and Staff.
