MRHS's Spring Concert - The Epitome Of Excellence
DescriptionAn article that talks about the most recent Spring Concert at WRTN founder Jason Elhilow's school.
MessageWe recommend watching MRHS's Spring Concert to form your own opinions about the show.
Image
MRSDIntroductionI love music, I truly do. But live music has always been a hard sell for me. Only the students at Monomoy Regional High School seem to know the secret, seem to know how to draw me in, and last night on May 18, they did it again. To be frank, it was incredible.
The band and chorus students at the MRHS Spring Concert absolutely astonished me with how flawless they were. Now, of course, I've been to the last few outings of this group, but YET AGAIN, my mind was blown (it's actually crazy). So, here's an official review of the job they did, because I'm still a bit overwhelmed by how darn good they were. Enjoy.
ChorusAs they've always been, the chorus was phenomenal yesterday. Back in December, they sang songs that I've heard a fair number of times. But for this show, they cracked out some new tunes, with solos from the most impressive vocalists in the group. Alexis Arruda, Julia Morgan, Leyla Holmes, Emory Hines, Britanya Bucknor, and SO MANY OTHERS were able to show off their wonderful voices between Crowded Table, God Will Give Orders/Sweet Child, Praise His Holy Name, and similar songs. Everyone from the sopranos, to the altos, to the bass and tenors were extraordinary, outputting strong and clear performances together. It's something you just have to experience for yourself, as you are taken on this magical sonic trip of both haunting and ethereal sounds. Though there was more to this show, the concert band coming next.
Concert BandGod, the concert band was great. They always are, but I really loved them this time around. Even though they only played six songs, How To Train Your Dragon, Earth Dance, Solas Ane, Cool, Honk, and I Want You Back, they stood out quite plainly as some of the best of the night. This can mainly be attributed to the solos supplied by a wide range of students, including some classics from past concerts like Thomas Marchio, Benjamin McGrath, Simon MacBride, and more (many of them had FANTASTIC performances during the jazz part as well, which I will get to). To put it lightly, for a $5 ticket price, it was worth every cent! It was a bunch of fun, everyone on stage looked like they were having fun, and between the clapping, the snapping, and the playing, there was this sense of awe all around, the massive MRHS Auditorium filled with cheers after each act.
Jazz BandI love the jazz band. Seriously, they are the epitome of excellence. This is not to down the other sections, but their three mighty tunes, Tourist Season, Li'l Darlin', and Mercy, Mercy, Mercy hit the spot in one too many ways. Like the Winter Concert, there was an original tune or two out of these from Wayne Naus and his collaborators. Together, they formed a solid 30-minute block of pure bliss, as we heard blaring saxophones (one played by my friend Michael Considine, a contributor to WRTN, and his sister, Abby), roaring trombones, spectacular percussion, and more. As mentioned in the previous section, the soloists from the concert band got some during the jazz section, too, including Marchio (and I think his younger brother, Chris), MacBride, McGrath, and many more. I will admit, I have some bias, plus my memory is a bit faulty, so if you were not mentioned, still know that yes, I saw you, and yes, you were freaking awesome! To speak to anyone reading that was in the show, let me tell you this: you all put on a remarkable show, and I am so happy I started this concert journey in December. Going to them, writing these reviews, and interacting with everyone have been the highlight of my year and as President of the Class of 2025. There are no words to describe how excellent you are, and I cannot wait for the next one. It's been a good ride, my friends, and I hope you feel proud, because you deserve it.
ConclusionI am beyond happy with my experience at this event. Between it, MRHS's recent Pops Concert, the musical 9 to 5, and, of course, the Winter Concert, I have few words to express the pure pleasure and entertainment these kids have supplied time after time again. As far as I know, it is their last show this school year, but don't worry, another will come, and with it, a new cast of musicians to join their ranks. There is just something so wonderful about seeing your friends, your family, your kids, or whoever, playing on that stage, with weeks and months of preparation going into two of the best hours you can have. It's an irreplaceable happiness, an invaluable feeling of joy. I'll just say that, when their first concert commences next year, I will absolutely be there, immersed in the excellence around me. And you should be, too.
The band and chorus students at the MRHS Spring Concert absolutely astonished me with how flawless they were. Now, of course, I've been to the last few outings of this group, but YET AGAIN, my mind was blown (it's actually crazy). So, here's an official review of the job they did, because I'm still a bit overwhelmed by how darn good they were. Enjoy.
ChorusAs they've always been, the chorus was phenomenal yesterday. Back in December, they sang songs that I've heard a fair number of times. But for this show, they cracked out some new tunes, with solos from the most impressive vocalists in the group. Alexis Arruda, Julia Morgan, Leyla Holmes, Emory Hines, Britanya Bucknor, and SO MANY OTHERS were able to show off their wonderful voices between Crowded Table, God Will Give Orders/Sweet Child, Praise His Holy Name, and similar songs. Everyone from the sopranos, to the altos, to the bass and tenors were extraordinary, outputting strong and clear performances together. It's something you just have to experience for yourself, as you are taken on this magical sonic trip of both haunting and ethereal sounds. Though there was more to this show, the concert band coming next.
Concert BandGod, the concert band was great. They always are, but I really loved them this time around. Even though they only played six songs, How To Train Your Dragon, Earth Dance, Solas Ane, Cool, Honk, and I Want You Back, they stood out quite plainly as some of the best of the night. This can mainly be attributed to the solos supplied by a wide range of students, including some classics from past concerts like Thomas Marchio, Benjamin McGrath, Simon MacBride, and more (many of them had FANTASTIC performances during the jazz part as well, which I will get to). To put it lightly, for a $5 ticket price, it was worth every cent! It was a bunch of fun, everyone on stage looked like they were having fun, and between the clapping, the snapping, and the playing, there was this sense of awe all around, the massive MRHS Auditorium filled with cheers after each act.
Jazz BandI love the jazz band. Seriously, they are the epitome of excellence. This is not to down the other sections, but their three mighty tunes, Tourist Season, Li'l Darlin', and Mercy, Mercy, Mercy hit the spot in one too many ways. Like the Winter Concert, there was an original tune or two out of these from Wayne Naus and his collaborators. Together, they formed a solid 30-minute block of pure bliss, as we heard blaring saxophones (one played by my friend Michael Considine, a contributor to WRTN, and his sister, Abby), roaring trombones, spectacular percussion, and more. As mentioned in the previous section, the soloists from the concert band got some during the jazz section, too, including Marchio (and I think his younger brother, Chris), MacBride, McGrath, and many more. I will admit, I have some bias, plus my memory is a bit faulty, so if you were not mentioned, still know that yes, I saw you, and yes, you were freaking awesome! To speak to anyone reading that was in the show, let me tell you this: you all put on a remarkable show, and I am so happy I started this concert journey in December. Going to them, writing these reviews, and interacting with everyone have been the highlight of my year and as President of the Class of 2025. There are no words to describe how excellent you are, and I cannot wait for the next one. It's been a good ride, my friends, and I hope you feel proud, because you deserve it.
ConclusionI am beyond happy with my experience at this event. Between it, MRHS's recent Pops Concert, the musical 9 to 5, and, of course, the Winter Concert, I have few words to express the pure pleasure and entertainment these kids have supplied time after time again. As far as I know, it is their last show this school year, but don't worry, another will come, and with it, a new cast of musicians to join their ranks. There is just something so wonderful about seeing your friends, your family, your kids, or whoever, playing on that stage, with weeks and months of preparation going into two of the best hours you can have. It's an irreplaceable happiness, an invaluable feeling of joy. I'll just say that, when their first concert commences next year, I will absolutely be there, immersed in the excellence around me. And you should be, too.
