By Armita Rohani
Side-by-side is back as Band starts off the East-Transit concert season on February 15. Students from grades 7 to 12 put on a fabulous show that was filled with comedy, articulation, and musical monuments. After nearly two months of rehearsals, as well as the countless hours spent practicing at home, dozens of enthusiastic musicians performed a fun, upbeat show that displayed their tireless efforts. Walking past the music wing during periods 1, 5, and 7, the bustling music is unavoidable, some pieces upbeat while others are full of tranquility. Students are diligently working hours around the clock as they prepare for an unforgettable show. For Colleen Meosky, president of the Wind Ensemble, “Wind is an unconventional homeroom and the best possible first period class. It’s hard to fall asleep on Monday mornings when you have a tuba behind you. Wind rehearsals are simultaneously productive and upbeat (pardon my pun). They’re a great mix of lightbulb moments and laughs with Mr. Lanighan’s creative analogies. We begin each rehearsal with a tuning note from our first class oboist, Annelyse Wilson. When Mr. Lanighan steps on the podium, we begin a warm up tailored to what we will focus on that day. We play scales and chords found in our pieces, and we first learn melodies without looking at sheet music to develop our listening skills.” Snippets of songs are heard galore, and rehearsals may be somewhat educational, but far from boring. Nonetheless, that same analogy can be applied to Jazz Ensemble as well! Jazz may be smaller in numbers, but their energy is phenomenal. “Jazz Ensemble is the second wind of the day. Rehearsals are less formal than first period to better fit the genre. Mr. Lanighan often shares stories of his own performances, jazz history, and talented artists he’s learned from,” says Colleen, “I love how every time we plan our arrangements, we encourage each other to take solos. The comfort we have with each other as friends allows us to leave our musical comfort zones, learning by trying new things.” To conclude, the band section is a vibrant part of our school, and students have worked day and night to start off the side-by-side concert season strongly.
Crowds flooded into the school on the 15th; the auditorium was packed with family and friends. Both Concert Band and Wind Ensemble performed phenomenally, and Transit did an incredible job at setting the scene as they performed “Adrenaline Engines” first. Concert band and Wind Ensemble then carried the reins as they performed “Brookpark Overture,” “Flourish for Wind Band,” and the fan favorite, “Bicycle Shoppe.” Including many unique sound effects, such as a bike horn and a whistle, this song was upbeat and lively. One showgoer said, “I liked the bicycle piece the best; it was very engaging and enjoyable. It felt like Abraham was about to open the heavens.” Concluding with “Images of Ireland,” both Transit and East performed beautifully. The piece was a mix of everything–there were buoyant and cheerful parts as well as soft melodic ones, and it was a pleasure to hear. East’s bands had a great time rehearsing with the middle schoolers, and according to Colleen, “We had a blast hosting Transit kids! They had an impressive performance.
As a senior, I certainly felt nostalgic coming across the program from my 7th grade side-by-side in my bedroom. It was exciting to meet the future of our program; I’m jealous that they have four incredible years ahead of them as I’m at the tail-end of my time here. I hope this experience has encouraged them to pursue music at East.” Not only was it a great experience for students, but the conductors also had a remarkable time working with the students at Transit:
‘ They did such a great job. I was blown away!” says Mr. Lanighan about the performance of the Transit students. “My main takeaway for that concert was “music connects us”. Music is about connection, and the collaboration that all of the bands did really reminded me of how powerful and positive that feeling can be!!” Needless to say, this concert would not have been the masterpiece that it was without the long hours students contributed, as well as the outstanding conducting skills of Mr. Lanighan, Mr. McCluskey and Ms. Eppich.
After the concert was concluded and the tremendous crowd exited the auditorium, Jazz Ensemble performed in the commons as the finishing touch of the night. Immensely underappreciated, Jazz Ensemble provides the music during assemblies, after school, and after concerts. They were the cherry on top, performing the unforgettable theme song of “The Incredibles.” Solos were tossed around as festive and groovy tunes laid their impact in the commons. Dare I say, Jazz Ensemble is more connecting than Concert Band or Wind Ensemble, as students talk more with each other and encourage one another to take the spotlight. “Oh man, there are too many favorites!” says Colleen, “I think what best encompasses it is that even when I’m not in the band room, my mind doesn’t stop thinking about it. Every morning, my mom asks me what’s going on that day, and my response always includes jazz ensemble. The songs never fail to get stuck in my head, and our members never fail to make me laugh. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that an internationally-acclaimed jazz trombonist is our teacher.” Jazz Ensemble finished the concert off strong and left audiences with a classic Pixar tune to think on the drive home.
This is not the end for band, however, as they will be hosting their final concert on June 6th. New members are on the way and the future definitely seems bright, according to Mr. Lanighan: “The Spring Concert will consist of an eclectic mix of exciting pieces! There’s been talk of movie themes, some interesting time signatures, and even some video game music. I truly think they’re going to get better and better! My goal for my bands is passion, musicality, and maturity. Can they do it by the end of the year? We’ll see!”
