by HML
The title references the charming poem: The Junior High School Band Concert by David Wagoner (1999), featured on a recent Writer’s Almanac.
The school year is finally wrapping up in our area, bringing with it the inevitable displays of student progress, whether they be science fairs, model museums, or, in our case, concerts. Thing One is very fortunate to attend a school with a top-ranked music program which consistently sweeps the awards at regional competitions. Not only are we happy that he’s getting such a good musical education, but it also makes the concerts a pleasure to attend. The performances range from mostly painless to surprisingly good. (We think one unnamed section may have mixed up their sheet music and kept playing Shostakovich during a Tchaikovsky piece, but still — mostly painless.)
The end of the year concert was held at a newly remodeled high school. This school is also known for its excellent music and drama programs, and the new theatre is a jewel box of green and gold (the school colors). The Junior Orchestra (Thing One’s group) played Handel’s Concerto Grosso, Op. 6, No. 9 in F and Brahms’ Hungarian Dance #5. Two Senior Orchestra soloists were particularly outstanding: the bassist playing the allegro moderato of Antonio Capuzzi’s Concerto for Bass in F major and the cellist for Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme, who received a well-deserved standing ovation.
As the musicians concentrated on their art, it was hard to remember they were all 11-13 year-olds. At the end, they milled about in the lunchroom/lobby area: ties loosened, munching on cookies from the bake sale, collecting instruments, bouquets, and hugs, all see-saw voices and unsteady in their dress shoes. One could almost dismiss them as ordinary pre-teens once again, were it not for the school’s motto in large letters across one wall: What I am to be, I am now becoming.
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June 25th, 2007 16:32
This sure gets me excited for our kids to attend there! And David Wagoner is one of my favorite poets! I have one of his books. We sure miss you guys in the ward!
June 25th, 2007 21:45
We miss the ward, too.
Nice collection of alumni on your blogroll; it’s fun to see what everyone’s doing now! Let us know when you’re moving into your new house, because we want to help out.