Page 28 - Spring 2024
P. 28
Music Department -
News From The Music Room
By Kevin Mania,
HHS Music Faculty
Greetings from the music room! MUSICIANSHIP award in the High School for their
WOW! This has been a momentous year. Faculty have performance. All students with solos received a 1
been working nonstop with the students to get ready rating for the groups.
for performances of all kinds. I would say that it was a rather successful competition
All our Jazz Band and Show Choirs performed for their season! BRAVO to all the directors and students
respective state jazz festivals. The first weekend of jazz involved in this year’s groups. You continue to show
competitions were held at Lake Region High School other schools in the state that we are alive and well
with the High School Jazz band. The band had a in Houlton. Shire pride is something that we hold to
wonderful time traveling to South Portland for a night a high standard in our department. We continuously
at the Merry Manor Inn where the students were able try to reinforce how important it is to have pride in
to relax in the pool and have some fun on Friday night. what we do. We are a team, and we can accomplish
Early Saturday morning we loaded up and headed anything we put our efforts in.
to the festival. The group performed mid-morning In May, we had our Spring concerts. All our groups
and received a SILVER rating. We had all our students played a variety of concert literature that kept our
receive a 1 rating on their solos, which is the highest students working hard and feeling proud of their
rating. The students had a wonderful experience and accomplishments. The band had its annual Band - O
were able to hear some other great groups. - Rama on May 2, which featured the Middle School
The second weekend featured our Middle School Band and the High School Band. The chorus had its
Jazz Band. They traveled to Waterville High School. It Choral Fest on May 13, featuring the Middle School
was an enjoyable day for travel as it was one of our Chorus and the High School Chorus. The Chorus has
first nice days with sun and decent temperature in a continued to invite community members to sing with
while. The group performed excellently! They had a the students at their concerts. This has been a terrific
rating of GOLD. This was our second year to get this addition to their performances. It is always good to
rating and we were so pleased with the students. see people who have a lifelong interest in performing
One of our students also received an OUTSTANDING music. Our community members who come to sing
MUSICIANSHIP award as well. Only five are given out with the group are greatly appreciated. It was a happy
in our performance room. All our soloists received a 1 and sad time for us. As we played our final formal
rating. concerts of the year, that means that we say goodbye
to great seniors that have been with us for many years.
The third weekend was for the High School and Middle This year the band graduates seven and the chorus
School Show Choirs. This was a busy weekend for sure. graduates three. We hope to see them come back and
It was also the eclipse weekend! While the town was visit and be a part of our next big reunion in the years
filling up with eclipse visitors the group headed south to come. We will deeply miss their contributions to our
to Ellsworth High School for a fun filled day of Show group and their leadership.
and Jazz Choir performances. This year’s High School
show choir performance was titled “The Afterlife“and Currently we are getting ready to support our town’s
the Middle School was “Weather.” Both groups had Memorial Day ceremony at Monument Park. Every
great performances and brought home SILVER for year the local American Legion invites us to participate
the High School and BRONZE for the Middle School. in their ceremony. Without hesitation we always do
We had a student receive another OUTSTANDING this event. We are happy to do our part to give back
28 www.houltonalumni.com
