The Wahama Concert Choir, under the direction of Rachel Reynolds, was one of four groups featured at the “2017 Spring Showcase” concert on Sunday. Others performing were the jazz band, concert band, and class piano students.
Connor Bumgarner, a classical piano student at Wahama, is pictured as he accompanies Lauren Fields singing at the spring concert. Several of those presenting numbers were first-year piano students, under the direction of Rachel Reynolds.
The newly formed jazz band made its public debut at the spring concert Sunday. Directed by Emily Hall, the group played several selections, including “Ain’t Misbehavin.”
“The Great Steamboat Race” was a favorite number by the Wahama Concert Band at the spring concert. Led by Emily Hall, the catchy tune featured a portion of the percussion section making the sounds of the river with half-filled gallon water jugs.
MASON — Over 100 students participated Sunday, when the Wahama High School Fine Arts Department presented its “2017 Spring Showcase” in the school gymnasium.
Musical selections were presented by the concert choir, jazz band, concert band, and class piano students.
The concert choir opened the showcase with the “Star Spangled Banner,” followed by “My Home Among the Hills.”
Several students were featured as soloists during the choir portion of the afternoon. Abby Pauley was the soloist in “O America,” followed by “It Takes A Village,” with soloists Alex Mitchell, Sophia Russell, Corissa Lloyd, and Jackson Hall. “Battle of Jericho” featured a descant by Sophia Russell.
The final number by the choir, which is under the direction of Rachel Reynolds, was a benediction, “Peace I Leave With You.”
A number of class piano students presented both solo piano music, as well as accompaniments. Reynolds told those attending that there is a difference between simply playing the piano, versus accompanying a singer, where the pianist must follow the singer’s lead.
Soloists were Rebekah Roach, playing “Theme From ‘The New World’ Symphony”; Payton McFarland, “Band on the Beach”; Dalton Berkley, “The House of the Rising Sun”; Kyher Bush, “Spring From ‘The Four Seasons’”; Sophia Russell, “Distant Bells”; and Abby Taylor, “Menuet.”
Accompaniments were performed by Alex Mitchell with Kaitlyn Greene as singer, in “Someone Like You”; Connor Bumgarner with Lauren Fields as singer in “Yellow”; and Aaron Beard with Destiny Sayre as singer in “Hallelujah.” Performing both solo voice and accompaniment were Isaiah Reitmire with “Heathen,” and Trinity Neal with “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You.”
The newly formed jazz band made its public debut with three songs, including “Birdland,” “Ain’t Misbehavin,” and “Caravan.” The concert band played four songs, including two that members received superior ratings on recently. Songs performed were “Synergies,” “The Great Steamboat Race,” “Ammerland,” and “The Light Eternal.”
The bands are under the direction of Emily Hall.
Mindy Kearns is a freelance writer for Ohio Valley Publishing, email her at mindykearns1@hotmail.com.
