Attleboro High School’s Annual Spring Concert

Piano used for the Concert
(Photo by/ Noman Khan)

By: Noman Khan

The Attleboro High School (AHS) conducted its annual spring concert on Thursday, May 28, 2015 at the Robert H. Bray Auditorium. Performances included the AHS Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Select Choir, and Mixed Chorus.

AHS hosts a spring concert every year with a new theme; this year’s theme was music from around the world.

“Students worked very hard for this concert as well as Music in the Parks, a festival last weekend. The entire music department would like to thank our graduating seniors and wish them well in the years to come,” said AHS band teacher Mr. Gary Hyman.

Hyman conducted most of the Mixed Chorus and Select Choir with the help of Mr. Christopher Bosch, who is a student teacher from Bridgewater State University.

“Students have been working on the music for this concert since January; a lot of hard work and effort was put in by each and every one of them,” said AHS band teacher Coralyn Grueb

Grueb conducted the Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble. There were a total of 30 student musicians playing in this year’s annual concert. Selections of the band section included “Russian Sailor’s Dance” and “Carrickfergus.”

“We work hard every single day to be 100 percent perfect unlike any other class; 90 percent accurate isn’t good enough,” said senior Hannah Harvey.

Many seniors have spent all of their high school years dedicated to the band and choir.

“We work hard at our rehearsals and prepare all year for our concerts to be a success,” said sophomore Kortnie Wheaton.

Many students really enjoy the concept of chorus and band because it allows a diverse group of people to come together as one and construct a musical concert. “Chorus is cool because it’s a wide variety of students; there’s always a little bit of everyone involved,” said senior Romaisa Khan.

“This was my last concert of my four years in this music department and I’m ecstatic to have spent it with the people who made me feel at home,” said senior Alexis Grassi.

Future musical events are posted on http://attleborohsband.weebly.com/ or  http://attleborohschorus.weebly.com

AHS Rocks

Band members on left and chorus on right during intermission
(Photo by/ Joetta Nuahn)

By: Joetta Nuahn

The Attleboro High School (AHS) annual winter concert was held in the Bray Auditorium on Dec. 18. All parts of the music department, the chorus groups and the band assemble for one night to display what they’ve been working on since Sept. The Attleboro community including parents, guardians, educators, administration, and students all came to this gathering in support of the musically talented students.

Everyone, including performers, waited anxiously for the festivities to start. AHS Senior chorus member Shannon Fisk said, “I’m not nervous, more stressed because we’ve been working so hard.”

Chorus and Band classes are offered at AHS. However, singing in the chorus isn’t just another class. Most choose to take it because there’s a sense of family and community. “You come back to the same people,” said Fisk.

he chorus was inclusive of all the holidays celebrated including songs attributed to Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.

Highlights of the night were when Principal Bill Runey “all bundled in fur, from his head to his foot; his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and bound! A bag full of toys he had flung on his back…” surprised everyone as he galloped down the aisle dressed up as Santa Claus while the chorus sang “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

The audience gave a standing ovation to senior Anthony Bollino when he showed his impressive footwork while tap dancing to the song “Happy Feet.”

The band was eccentric as they played “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” form the epilogue of Frozen. The crowd sang along merrily.

Members of the band were truly brilliant. Senior Thomas Friedlander, who has been playing instruments for eight years, said, “It’s enjoyable and releasing.”

After the concert Chorus Director Mr. Gary Hyman said, “Each piece had its challenge,” which is why he purposefully chose those pieces in order for students to work on specific skills such as balance, blend and technique. Hyman went on to say that he loves all the music the choir sang because of the wide variety of music choices.

He added, “It went very well.”

The Chorus includes: freshmen –  Jamie DeBairos, Diana Borge, Jalyn King, Aliysn Parker and Jacob Swenson; sophmores – Cassidy Dias, Treasure Gathers, Julia LaBarre, Joelle Mercier, Samantha Perkins, Alexis Ramos and Samia Stephens; juniors – Kendra Cardoso, Breanne Chamberlain, Emily Crane, Alexis Closson,  Elizabeth Howard, David Louro, Delene Martin, Pam Metcalf, Molly McCabe, Sam O’Donnell, Melina Parkinson, Marisa Plath, Jocelyn Ramon, Ashley Sloan and Rachel Shuman; and seniors – Christelle Benjamin, Anthony Bollino, Shannon Fisk, Colin Grady, Alexis Grassi, Kaitlynn Grondiness, Samantha Hindy, Romasia Khan, Danielle King, Hanna Lynes, Elijah Malo, Tara O’Neil, Ashleigh Presbrey, Jos-Ean Rivera-Ortiz, and Kayla Twomey.