Schools
Concerts Will Include Senior Recognitions
This week's performances will conclude a special year for Watchung Hills' musical groups.
Concluding each of this week's Watchung Hills Regional High School Music Department spring concerts—which includes the Instrumentalists performance at 7 p.m. Wednesday, and choristers' program Friday at 7 p.m., will be special recognition for many of each groups' performers.
Also, National Choral Awards will be presented at the conclusion of the concert: All Eastern Participant, Tenzin Tsepel; Region Chorus Members, 2012-2013, Kristhi Bhaumik, Tenzin Tsepel, Kimberly Lewis, Lauren Scott, Rachel Hobble, Monica Leysa; All State Chorus Members, 2012-2013, Gabe Price, Dan Grant, Tenzin Tsepel, Lauren Panzarino, Rachel Hobble, Jake Wasserman; All State Chorus 2013-2014, Kristhi Bhaumik.
Some 75 members of the Chorus, it should be known, participated in the Virginia International Music Festival held in Virginia Beach in early May. Under Di Iorio’s direction, the Men’s and Women’s Ensembles, the Advanced Chorus and the Mixed Chorus performed—with splendid results: Both the Men’s Ensemble and the Women’s Ensembles took first place; the Advanced Chorus and the Mixed Chorus both took third place in their various categories.
Find out what's happening in Warrenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The public is invited to enjoy the performances, and recognitions, set to take place in the Performing Arts Center of the school.
The instrumentalists, under the baton of David Udell, will appear in various groupings.
Find out what's happening in Warrenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“We‘ve tried to include pieces from many eras, selections that challenge our musicians and please our audience,” said Udell.
Opening the evening’s program, the String Orchestra will perform “The Odyssey” by Soon Hee Newold, “Heliotrope Bouquet” by Scott Joplin, “Duo for Strings & Orchestra” by Johann Michel, Danzon from “Fancy Free” by Leonard Bernstein, “Allegro Moderato” by Joseph Haydn.
The Concert Band’s selections will include: Bach’s “Prelude & Fugue in Bb Major,” “Rollicum – Rorum” by Gerald Finzi, “Invicta,” by James Swearingen, “Brighton Beach,” by William Latham, and a Disney Spectacular, arranged by John Moss.
The Wind Ensemble will present Steven Reineke’s “River of Life,” the Suite Francaise by Darius Milhaud, Robert Jager’s “Third Suite, ” and the “Emblem of Unity” by J.J.Richards.
The sophisticated Brass in Black group, conducted by Bonnie Burgdorf, will render “Fly with Me,” by John Wasson and two pieces by John Schuberg, “First Dance” and “Shake It Up.”
Band members perform all year round and appear at many community events, from football games to patriotic programs to various dedications and celebrations in the sending district. The annual end-of-year concert allows the public to see and hear them all together.
The choral concert, under the direction of Angela DiIorio, will feature the WHRHS Mixed Chorus, Advanced Chorus, Combined Choirs, Women’s/ Men’s Combined Select Vocal Ensembles, and four senior soloists.
Popular pieces in the evening‘s program will include John Lennon’s famous “Imagine,” the spiritual “Wade in the Water,” various senior solos, pop pieces such as “Nice Work if You Can Get It,:” “California Dreamin’,” “Pure Imagination,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
In the Watchung Hills tradition, the musical portion of the concert will conclude with Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus,” which brings alumni and audience members to the stage to join the WHRHS Choir in a rousing finale.
