On May 19th, Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Middle/ High School Band) performed Thousand Hills Overture, Winterwinds, and as a warm-up, Ecossaise. We went home taking second place.

We signed up for the Level 2 and 3 Division. The feedback given by the judges was valuable. One judge pointed out our need for improvement in the percussion section, saying that “ Overall everyone could improve on dynamics. Percussion, you guys are the driving forces of dynamics, but I didn’t hear that much. You basically were at the same level of volume the whole song. But for a small group, you performed excellently.” The oldest percussion player, Hunter Lincoln, said “It was embarrassing to be honest. To be called out. The section worked very hard, but yet when it mattered, we didn’t come through. Thankfully, every other section played amazingly.” Overall, the experience was one to remember: the pressure of performing in front of judges is a stressful but very helpful experience. Since our audition was at 1:00, we were able to freelance around the park, buying souvenirs and riding the roller coasters.

The band did an extraordinary job at Darien Lake and in their previous endeavors. I think that we’ve come a long way, especially with the frequent changes in the music program itself. On behalf of the music department, we would like to thank Mrs. Stack for her perseverance and dedication towards music and success. We’re very grateful to have her as our temporary conductor. We wouldn’t have been able to hold it together without her.

Be sure to mark your calendars for our upcoming events. The Memorial Day Parade is on May 29th and our annual Jazz in Bloom festival is on June 9th. Come and join us for a night of entertainment!