The final band and choir concerts of the year are bittersweet occasions, especially for the seniors who will be on the stage of Rezac Auditorium for the final time. As these performances draw nearer for Manhattan High’s musicians, many of them are using everything they have learned over the years in the MHS band and choir programs to make the upcoming concerts unforgettable for them and their audience.

“[Band has] been amazing,” wind ensemble clarinet player Peri Carney, senior, said. “From the beginning all of the directors have been very encouraging and positive.”

The wind ensemble will be playing a versatile set of music including an emotional piece titled “Passages,” an arrangement of the well-known soundtrack from the “Harry Potter” film series as well as an arrangement of “Old Scottish Melody,” a piece which has been an MHS band tradition to conclude the ensemble’s performance. The band has been preparing for this concert with the help of their directors and rehearsals.

The choir has also been practicing for their final concert, which will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in Rezac Auditorium. They have been preparing numerous songs such as “The Lord Bless You and Keep You,” a choir tradition, amongst many other pieces. These range from complex, powerful music, to crowd-pleasing Disney numbers.

“A lot of what we do is learning to read music which is fun,” Chamber and Pops choir member Meg Mankin, senior, said. “It incorporates the left brain and the right brain which I really enjoy. I also enjoy how open-minded the choir program is. It’s really nice to be able to grow with everyone in choir and become sort of a family.”  

Much like the band, the seniors in choir have been applying every skill they have learned in the music program with their directors and fellow musicians to end the year with a concert that showcase the best of their abilities.

“I have learned how to be a leader and how to sometimes let others lead,” Mankin said. “I appreciate group settings more and can find the meaningful moments. I was taught how to love what you do and how that is the most important thing. I also learned how one piece of music can bring up many different things for each person and sometimes the emotions aren’t easy. [Choir director Chad] Pape taught me that not everything is happy and that’s okay; you have to lean into the discomfort.”

As the seniors look back on fond memories from being in MHS music programs, many of these musicians credit their directors with making the programs special for them.

“One thing that I love about all of the directors is that they’re always willing to help you and if something is wrong with your instrument or if you’re struggling all you have to do is ask for help and they’ll do all that they can to help,” Carney said. “They always try to make the things we do fun and enjoyable and I’ve loved every minute of band.”

The band will be performing at 7 p.m. tonight in Rezac Auditorium.