Music is something that people of all ages, all around the world love. With Halloween just around the corner, the school’s bands decided to host a concert on October 16 from 7-9 p.m., celebrating the holiday. The concert was separated into three parts and three bands, The Wind Symphony, the 154 Jazz Ensemble, and the Wind Ensemble.
There were nine songs in all, Pirates of the Caribbean (arranged by Michael Sweeny), I Wanna Be Like You (by John Wasson), and Les Miserables (arranged by Warren Barker) being just a few. There was also a song sung by Meagan Provenzano, Don’t Get Around Much Anymore (arranged by Mark Taylor), as part of the 154 Jazz Ensemble.
Lisa Pate, the director of band, gave some advice to anyone who is thinking about joining band, “You should do it. A lot of students think that they need to start sooner, or they need to already play an instrument. I take everyone. So, if you have any interest in music, even if you come to Royal High School at the high school level, you can start with me right here and you’ll end up playing all this stuff by the time you get to your senior year. So, it’s never too late to start, is my advice.” Pate plays all kinds of instruments, her main being the saxophone. She has been a high school band director for 18 years, and working here for 17.
Hannah Zeman, a senior and the band manager and pit captain, answered the same question about advice. “I say, just do it. I know a lot of kids get scared or intimidated, or they say I don’t know an instrument, or I don’t know how to play or anything, but there’s amazing people here that will help you and teach you. And Pate’s very patient, she’s understanding, she’s the best anyone could ask for really. So, I just say go ahead and do it. Why not? It’s never too late. We’ve actually had kids join as seniors, and it’s not a problem at all. It’s an amazing experience and I wouldn’t change it for anything.”
The bands all worked really hard for this concert, practicing since almost the beginning of the year. They all seemed to have fun on stage, making jokes whenever something happened like feedback on a microphone. If you don’t want to join, then think about going to a future concert. They all played their best, and it showed.