The CHIEF March 2019

By Alyssa Rodriguez

Band Winter Concert

On the evening of February 28th, the Pontiac Township High School band members had their winter concert titled “America: Heroes, Honor, and Heritage.” This concert began with the Concert Band members playing “Proudly We Hail” by Brian Balmages. Following this were two other songs, and then the audience's ears were shifted to the Mad Brass group playing “The Chase.” Members of this group are Ali Schrock, Scott Shelby, Sam Mehrkens, Aaron Putnam, Daniel Bromley, and also had Donovan Murphy on the drum set. After their performance, the people in attendance had the privilege of hearing solos from Aaron Putnam on trombone, and then Ali Schrock on her violin. The last group to take the stage was the high school’s Symphonic Band. This group played a total of four songs ranging in mood from an intense battle to tear jerking. In the third song, “American Elegy” by Frank Ticheli, a solo was played by the newest addition to the music department staff, Mr. Roberts. To close the program the band played the well-known “Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Philip Sousa that included Mr. Schickel playing towards the end, leaving the audience with a prideful and energetic feeling. As the winter concert is now over, the bands will now focus on marching and their piece for the upcoming Disney trip and also music for the spring concert. On February 21st, the annual Winter Choral Showcase Concert was held in the auditorium. The theme of this concert was “Around the World.” To begin the concert, the Disney Choir performed “God Bless America.” During the transition between the Disney Choir to Cantabile, Brayden Weaver sang a solo titled “Giants in the Sky.” Once Cantabile was on stage, songs such as “Viva La Vida” were performed. Moving away from a choir again, Collin Wonders and Skylar Johnson sang a duet before Men’s Choir took the audience's attention. One song by this group was “Wagon Wheel.” Following the Men’s Choirs performance was a solo by Madelyn Doran and then two songs by the Route 66 Jazz choir. For the next big group, Bel Canto took the stage and contributed to the theme starting off with an arrangement of “What a Wonderful World.” In between the previous group and the oncoming Concert choir was a solo performed by Mackenzi Mies. To end the concert, Concert Choir was brought out singing “Pompeii” as well as three other songs. The final song to close the concert by Concert Choir titled “Peze Kafe” arranged by Sten Kallman. Now the choirs will focus on touching up music for the upcoming Disney trip and working on songs for the spring concert. Choral Winter Concert