Band puts on a fun-filled winter performance
In the spotlight. Soloist, senior Owen Li performs ‘Appalacihan Springs’ during the winter band concert on March 7.
March 16, 2017
Manhattan High School’s symphonic band and wind ensemble have been working all semester to put on their first performance of the year. The students and directors have been practicing for about two months now.
“We always prepare with repetition. If there is a part we struggle with we play it over and over until there’s no way we could get it wrong again,” senior Jamie Hankins said.
The band has put a lot of time getting ready for their concert, with the theme being Americana.
“Honestly, we prepared for this by a lot of practice and commitment to what we love,” senior Mackenzie Reeder said.
Throughout the concert, the band played music with hard-hitting notes to softer tones, keeping the fan-packed auditorium intrigued. With songs ranging from “The Light Eternal” to “Excerpts from Appalachian Spring,” the concert kept a cheerful tone.
Nancy Monical, symphonic band director, kept things upbeat with stating her dislike to circus themes, and then ironically performing “Entry of the Gladiators.” The band also did the performance with red clown noses, making the crowd bright with smiles and laughter.
“It all pays off with the crowd’s feedback and the feeling of pride in the end,” Reeder said.
The wind ensemble then played “Three Fanfares for a Celebration.” It also had four K-State students as special guest French horn players, including Grace Baugher, Justin Gittle, John Hanson and Kara Whitaker.
Some members of the audience were taken with the way the wind ensemble and symphonic band presented throughout the performances. Even a few audience members made comments to how well the instruments sounded together and separate, taking appreciation into the part each instrument had.
In the end, all the instruments tied together and put on a successful show for the parents, students and faculty that attended.
Before the final song, students who auditioned or performed with district or state band were recognized and applauded for their accomplishments. They were also acknowledged for their great representation of MHS. The school’s administration team was shown appreciation as well for not only their financial help, but also their physical help to the band.
For the seniors, this is the end of their high school band journey, and it surely tugged at their heartstrings.
“We always close the wind ensemble portion of the concert with ‘Home on the Range,’ so playing it for my fourth and final time as a senior was very bittersweet and emotional, and I know a lot of the other seniors felt the same way,” Hankins said.
Once the concert was over, the audience whistled and applauded for the performances that took place that night. They then met their band members in the commons to give them flowers, hugs and show their general support and love to the band.
“It’s nice to know that people appreciate our hard work, and are willing to come back and support the band program time after time,” Hankins said.
Those who support the band seem to be a big part of the success and outcome of each performance every year.
“There is no one highlight of the concert: it’s everything: The preparation that we do, and to see that people enjoy it means the world to all of us,” Reeder said.
