Band, choral students impress at All-Aroostook

Staff Photo/Natalie Bazinet
SING ALONG — Mackenzie Roy and Hannah Buhler of Katahdin perform during the All-Aroostook Middle School portion of the All-Aroostook Concert on Jan. 16 at the Fort Fairfield Middle/High School.

By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
    FORT FAIRFIELD — All-Aroostook musicians performed a notably impressive concert on Jan. 16 at the Fort Fairfield Middle/High School. Over 300 students either auditioned or were recommended to participate in the concert, which drew a packed house, though many were readily willing to stand through the show to listen to the talented Aroostook youths.
    “It went terrific,” said MSAD 20 middle/high school band and music teacher Robert Helstrom, who was the manager of the High School All-Aroostook Band this year. “The students were outstanding, musically and behaviorally, the volunteers were really helpful, and the administration was wonderful; it really was a great event all the way around,” he said, adding that the weather was also significantly mild.
    “Usually when we hold the All-Aroostook Concert, it’s 20 below!” Helstrom said.
    Another atypical aspect of the All-Aroostook Concert this year, aside from the weather, was the final piece, during which the All-Aroostook High School Band and Chorus joined together to perform “Today is the Gift,” by Samuel Hazo.
    “Today is the Gift” was the favorite song of many students, including All-Aroostook High School Band member Angeline Armour of Southern Aroostook Community School.
    As opposed to some musicians who enjoy playing a piece for their specific part, “Today is the Gift” is Armour’s favorite piece to play because of the sound as a whole.
    “Collectively, it’s beautiful,” she said.
    Currently a sophomore, this was Armour’s fifth year of being All-Aroostook and as long as she’s in the county, she plans on continuing with future All-Aroostook auditions. Aside from the increased level of talent at the All-Aroostook level, “It’s nice to play with new people and to make new friends,” she said.
Staff Photo/Natalie Bazinet
ALL TOGETHER — Matthew Madore, choral director for the Waterville public school system, gives instruction to the All-Aroostook High School Chorus, which included front row, from left: Julia Weatherhead of Limestone, Kayla Harris of Hodgdon, MaryMargaret Portera of Limestone and Heather Jackins of Houlton. Second row: Maryah Ranck of Houlton, Ashley Morton of Ashland and Kayla Collins of Caribou. Third row: Melissa McKenney and Megan Thompson, both of Fort Fairfield and Chloe Rossignol and Courtney Colligan, both of Presque Isle. Fourth row: Helene Thompson of Katahdin, Amber Charette of Katahdin and Tessa O’Donnell of Houlton.
    Erica and Megan Thompson, sisters from Fort Fairfield who both made the All-Aroostook High School Chorus, enjoy participating in the musical event because of the increased number of voices who make up the chorus.
    “In our high school chorus, without the inclusion of the eighth-graders, we’d only have 12 people,” Megan said. “[In the All-Aroostook Chorus] there are a lot of different voices that you normally don’t hear in our small chorus because we get to hear all four parts instead of three.”
    “It sounds so much better with baritones and tenors,” Erica added.
    Their favorite pieces to sing were “O Sifuni Mungu” as arranged by Emerson, and “Witness” arranged by Halloran and Bolks.
    Of the over 300 students participating in the event included:
All-Aroostook Middle School Chorus
    Houlton: Tessa Lilly, Caila Keber, Erin Hannigan, Stephanie Taylor, Amber Hulstruck, Emily Dickison, Madelene Anderson, Havena Rhoda, Natalie Rush, Jill Howland, Lucas Grant, Elyjah Crockett, David Jewell, Keegan Fitzpatrick, Noah Holmes and Tommy Hannigan.
    Central Aroostook: Sage Ashby, Noelle Bailey, Courtney Milliard, Stephanie Dame, Kennedy Day, Karli Levesque, Ethan McKenney, Gwen Parsons, Mollie Garrison, Molly Anthony, Spencer Garrison, Conor Todd, Alex Folsom, Dane Kingsbury, Josiah Jackins and Chandler Brewer.
    Katahdin: Hannah Buhler, Kami Guiggey, Mackenzie Roy, Michelle Birmingham, Delaney Fitzpatrick, Kayla Whitney and Jacob Buhler.
    Hodgdon: Hannah Chapla.
All-Aroostook Middle School Band
    Katahdin: Breanna Cullen, Elizabeth Knowles and Caleb Cullen.
    Houlton: Hanna Gervais, Robbie Woods, Alex Casillas, Barrett Dunn, Jacob Jones, Isaac Morse, Steven Phillips, Phoenix Crockett, Cameron Clark and Ryan Tribou.
    Hodgdon: Dillon Meserve, Christopher Hudson, Micayla Fitzpatrick and Derick Ellis.
All-Aroostook High School Band
    Houlton: Ashley Hannigan, Maggie Garcia Ponder, Courtney Bragan, Chelsi Murray, Marina DiMarco, Tasha Ponder, Madison Lezotte, Dustin Fitzpatrick and D.J. McGary.
    Kathadin: Hana Charette, Maverick Elwell, Jesse McNally and D.J. Steeves,
    Southern Aroostook: Angeline Armour and Matt Monroe.
All-Aroostook High School Chorus
    Central Aroostook: Shannon Todd, Aryn Bernier, Mariah Brewer, Brian Faulkner, Landon Jackins and Andrew Smith.
    Hodgdon: Kayla Harris and Sara Chaloux.
    Houlton: Ally Carmichael, Katie Good, Heather Jackins, Stephannie Kreyssig, Megan Maker, Tessa O’Donnell, Maryah Ranck, Mikaela Tuttle, Lucas Anderson, Brandon Clark, Tyler Delano, Josh McNinch, Tyler Swimm, Shawn West, Mallory Clayton, Taylor Forest, Adrianna Moreno, Maggie Russell, Gabriel Hannigan and Zacharia Harvey.
    Katahdin: Amber Charette, Brianna Landry, Helene Thompson, Victor Cloukey, Travis Lindsay, Keith Mitchell, Jamiee Lee Anderson, Whitney Anderson, Bailey McNally, Chris Cloukey and Andrew Vetter.