MRHS's Winter Concert - Big, Beautiful, & the Best I've Ever Seen
DescriptionAn article that talks about the most recent Winter Concert at WRTN founder Jason Elhilow's school.
MessageBefore or after reading this review, we recommend you watch the MRHS Winter Concert to be able to form your own opinion about the show.
Image
MRSDIntroductionAs a student, I have a couple major responsibilities. You know, the typical getting schoolwork done and making sure I have good grades. But as Class President, there are a few more tossed my way, one of them being involvement in school-related activities. And on December 15, 2022, I went to my first high school concert. My FIRST. Never had I seen the modern talent of my peers before, so I was excited to see what I would come to. And, knowing myself, I thought I would have been bored out of my mind. But I was not. I damn well was not.
The band and chorus students at the recent MRHS Winter Concert absolutely astonished me with how good they all were. It's not that I "underestimated" them, as much as I just thought most school bands and such would still be a bit... clumsy. We've all seen those videos, those clips of parents at their kid's concerts, either totally zoned out or laughing at the mishaps on stage. But this group was different. Between the magnificent track list, A+ performances, and mesmerizing vocals, it shows how truly talented so many are so early in their lives (they can definitely do more than I can, to say the least). So, here's an "official" review of the remarkable job they did, because that is just how blown away I was. Enjoy.
ChorusI'm going a bit out of order here, but I want to first talk about the chorus. It was split up into two groups: the general choir and the select choir. Both groups did remarkable jobs, singing tunes like Peace on Earth, Sleigh Ride, and Joy to The World. Now, I know those are not the most unique songs to sing (they did sing others), though it was a Winter/Christmas event, so it adds up. Everyone from the sopranos, to the altos, to the bass and tenors were all fantastic, outputting wonderful performances both solo and together. Bass vocalist Xavier Doyle stole the show with his impressive delivery and outstanding range. And to think that the oldest ones are seniors in HIGH SCHOOL! Crazy. Absolutely crazy. Though the outstanding performances don't end there, as the next group is just as impressive.
Concert BandThe concert band, which is made up of the general and jazz bands, is a truly amazing group of kids. Their renditions of Ukrainian Bell Carol, Wintertide, and Celtic Carol were fantastic, with the booms of a bass, the whistles of flutes, the bellows of French horns, and so on leading the audience through the stories of each respective song. Alongside the music was a beautifully curated set with expert lighting, something that was used throughout the show. Projected snow, a painted winter wonderland background, and effective usage of red, green, blue, and other colored lamps enchanted the experience, immersing you within the grand MRHS Auditorium. I've got to say, for a $5 ticket price, it was worth every cent! But the concert band is not the end of this sonic journey, as we were treated to the most impressive act of the night: the jazz band. (No offense to the other parts of the concert, I just LOVED the jazz band's performances and have friends in it, so I'm a bit biased. Sorry.)
Jazz BandBy far the jazz band was the most enthralling part of the show. This is mainly attributed to the original music produced by Wayne Naus and his collaborators alongside the equally stunning solo stunts by select students. Unfortunately, this specific section of the lineup only played three songs: Recado Bossa Nova, Song For My Father, and Mooncussers' Shuffle. But they were enough to impress. 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), roaring trombones, and spectacular percussion. Though my God, even though I have shown enough bias, the solo guitar performance by student (and friend) Thomas Marchio was breathtaking in every way, being the highlight of the evening for me. His brother also got a unique slot in the middle of the recital, presenting his piano skills masterfully, alongside student Simon MacBride, who came in ready to dazzle with his immaculate drumming talent. Without a doubt, this set of musicians was the cream of the crop, and I am beyond proud of them (along with everyone else)! Everything was fantastic all around, and every single one of them, whether part of the chorus, concert band, or jazz band, should be proud, too. It was perfect!
ConclusionIn conclusion, I am beyond happy that I went to this school event. As I said at the start, concerts are not really my thing, typically boring me within the first five minutes. But this one was different. I was totally encapsulated in each performance the second they started, drawn toward the extreme talent each student showed. And sure, I have a bit of a bias, as I am Class President for many of them and friends with a few, but don't let that taint the quality of my review. I truly believe that this was a phenomenal show, and I wish them the best of luck on the next one because you just know I will be there, sitting in the audience, awed by the sheer brilliance being executed in front of me. And you should be, too.
The band and chorus students at the recent MRHS Winter Concert absolutely astonished me with how good they all were. It's not that I "underestimated" them, as much as I just thought most school bands and such would still be a bit... clumsy. We've all seen those videos, those clips of parents at their kid's concerts, either totally zoned out or laughing at the mishaps on stage. But this group was different. Between the magnificent track list, A+ performances, and mesmerizing vocals, it shows how truly talented so many are so early in their lives (they can definitely do more than I can, to say the least). So, here's an "official" review of the remarkable job they did, because that is just how blown away I was. Enjoy.
ChorusI'm going a bit out of order here, but I want to first talk about the chorus. It was split up into two groups: the general choir and the select choir. Both groups did remarkable jobs, singing tunes like Peace on Earth, Sleigh Ride, and Joy to The World. Now, I know those are not the most unique songs to sing (they did sing others), though it was a Winter/Christmas event, so it adds up. Everyone from the sopranos, to the altos, to the bass and tenors were all fantastic, outputting wonderful performances both solo and together. Bass vocalist Xavier Doyle stole the show with his impressive delivery and outstanding range. And to think that the oldest ones are seniors in HIGH SCHOOL! Crazy. Absolutely crazy. Though the outstanding performances don't end there, as the next group is just as impressive.
Concert BandThe concert band, which is made up of the general and jazz bands, is a truly amazing group of kids. Their renditions of Ukrainian Bell Carol, Wintertide, and Celtic Carol were fantastic, with the booms of a bass, the whistles of flutes, the bellows of French horns, and so on leading the audience through the stories of each respective song. Alongside the music was a beautifully curated set with expert lighting, something that was used throughout the show. Projected snow, a painted winter wonderland background, and effective usage of red, green, blue, and other colored lamps enchanted the experience, immersing you within the grand MRHS Auditorium. I've got to say, for a $5 ticket price, it was worth every cent! But the concert band is not the end of this sonic journey, as we were treated to the most impressive act of the night: the jazz band. (No offense to the other parts of the concert, I just LOVED the jazz band's performances and have friends in it, so I'm a bit biased. Sorry.)
Jazz BandBy far the jazz band was the most enthralling part of the show. This is mainly attributed to the original music produced by Wayne Naus and his collaborators alongside the equally stunning solo stunts by select students. Unfortunately, this specific section of the lineup only played three songs: Recado Bossa Nova, Song For My Father, and Mooncussers' Shuffle. But they were enough to impress. 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), roaring trombones, and spectacular percussion. Though my God, even though I have shown enough bias, the solo guitar performance by student (and friend) Thomas Marchio was breathtaking in every way, being the highlight of the evening for me. His brother also got a unique slot in the middle of the recital, presenting his piano skills masterfully, alongside student Simon MacBride, who came in ready to dazzle with his immaculate drumming talent. Without a doubt, this set of musicians was the cream of the crop, and I am beyond proud of them (along with everyone else)! Everything was fantastic all around, and every single one of them, whether part of the chorus, concert band, or jazz band, should be proud, too. It was perfect!
ConclusionIn conclusion, I am beyond happy that I went to this school event. As I said at the start, concerts are not really my thing, typically boring me within the first five minutes. But this one was different. I was totally encapsulated in each performance the second they started, drawn toward the extreme talent each student showed. And sure, I have a bit of a bias, as I am Class President for many of them and friends with a few, but don't let that taint the quality of my review. I truly believe that this was a phenomenal show, and I wish them the best of luck on the next one because you just know I will be there, sitting in the audience, awed by the sheer brilliance being executed in front of me. And you should be, too.
