To the editor:
The musical program performed by the Junior High Band and the High School Band last Thursday, May 14, was attended by a full house with standing room only. It was an evening that proved to all attending, that Houlton is truly the “Music Town of Maine”.
The seventy-seven Junior High Band members, under the direction of Kevin Mania, presented us with a live visual visit to out-of-space, was truly unbelievable. The music took you into a day in space, going to Mars, aliens landing in your backyard and then the Star Wars musical saga had everyone spellbound. You could feel the excitement in the audience as they applauded between scenes. The musical selections being performed, matched the action appearing on the screen on the stage behind the band.
A standing ovation truly showed how much the audience appreciated the beautiful musical rendition of a trip to outer space, performed by the Junior High Band.
The one hundred ten High School Band members, under the direction of Joe Fagnant, took on the challenge of European music. Starting off with the High School Symphonic Band, they played the well-known “Russian Sailors’ Dance”. It had your hands and feet moving as you tried to keep up with the variations of tempo that this number presented. It was truly an outstanding rendition.
Next on the program was an Irish number, performed in three parts known as the “Fusion”. First, an overture, next a ballad and finally the “Fusion”. Truly, the musical climax in this rendition made you aware of the build-up of sound, resulting in the release of quantities of energy.
For the next number, it was like attending a military exercise known as a Tattoo. It was the “March of the Belgian Paratroopers”. You could hear the sounds of marching soldiers as their cadence presented a swaying back and forth movement.
The final number was “Havendance”, written by David Holsinger. He created this music to relate to his daughter, as she would leap and dance to music being played. You can picture a child brought up in a home that dance music was a daily experience. Again, the audience gave the High School Band a truly earned standing ovation.
For a final musical rendition of musical chairs, thirty-two band seniors danced to the music as they proved to one and all they will be missed as the chairs were removed, one by one.
Michael Clark
Houlton
