High School-Middle School Concert a Success!

By Brigid Ehrmantraut

The Orcas Center audience gave a spontaneous standing ovation at the conclusion of the first-ever appearance of  Orcas High School and Middle School music groups on Thursday, June 2. Students in Middle School Strings and Band, the Junior Orcas Youth Orchestra, the High School Strings and Band and the Orcas Youth Orchestra played with an energy and excellence that were the highest tribute to their teachers and directors, Martin Lund and Pamela Wright.

Students, chairs and music stands (and even a frisky canine!) rotated throughout the evening’s performance, which started with a traditional Scottish song and a march by Bach performed by Middle School Strings under the direction of Pamela Wright. They set the accomplished, lively tone that characterized all selections that evening.

Middle School Band followed, playing Online March, A Tune by Taj (written by and featuring Taj Howe as a soloist), and the Disney hit, Under The Sea. Middle School Strings joined their counterparts in Band for a last number, Attack of the Slide Trombones, where Kahana Pietsch and Ray Doss  soloed on trombone.

At this point, Band Conductor Martin Lund’s dog, Winston, managed to escape from backstage to add his presence to the performers, before jauntily exiting off-stage.

High School Strings, conducted by Wright, then played the  Hatikvah Fantasia (based on the Zionist movement theme song, The Hope), and the classical selection, Rondeau (known to public television audiences as the theme from “Masterpiece Theater”).

Before collaborating with Middle School Strings for an arrangement of the Coldplay song, Viva La Vida, High School Strings also debuted what Pamela Wright termed the “contemporary” Adagio #1 by this reporter. (Editor’s note: Adagio #1, an original composition by Ehrmantraut, was well-crafted, melodic, and sophisticated. The High School group performed it with the respect and professionalism due an established composer).

High School Band stole the show with their first improvisational song, 0:Dark 30, composed by the entire group during their 7:30 a.m. practice sessions. They followed it with the famous jazz number Take Five by Paul Desmond. Senior Kailley Grantham (who will be majoring in music next year) performed the flute solos with an agility and flow that made it seem like an improvised performance. Christopher Ghazel also shone in a percussion spotlight during the piece.

The Orcas Youth Orchestra (comprised of the combined forces of High School Band and Strings and part of Middle School Strings) wrapped up the night with A Fifth of Beethoven and Pachelbel Rides Again, two modern twists on well known classical pieces. High School junior Mackie Blackburn took a solo on the latter,a jazzy take on Pachelbel’s Canon in D.

Thanks to Lek Thixton for joining on guitar for the final number. Another thanks to everyone who helped set up, move stands and chairs, and re-set up for the Community Band concert on Saturday, June 4.

Directors Wright and Lund regretted that no encore was prepared for the Orcas Youth Orchestra following the audience’s standing ovation in what was a few seats short of a full house.

The concert was made possible  by the support of many volunteers, the Orcas Island School District, the Music Advocacy Guild (Mag) and the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival.

Pamela Wright and Martin Lund will be directing the Elementary concert on Thursday, June 9, at 6:30 p.m. in the Old Gym.

High School Strings and Band (and probably a few middle schoolers) will be playing for High School Graduation on June 11 in the High School gym.