Samo bands perform at annual Fall concert

On Tuesday, Oct. 27th, the Samo Band Program hosted its annual Fall Concert in Barnum Hall, to the delight of hundreds of parents and friends. All five bands in the program, ranging from beginning, intermediate and advanced, played complicated sets that challenged each musician, while also presenting several solo opportunities for budding musicians in various ensembles.The night began with the Concert Band, the band meant for kids starting out on their instruments conducted by music teacher Terry Sakow. They were followed by the Symphonic Band, meant for developing musicians. After that Symphonic Winds, a new ensemble meeting in first period for members of the band that are talented at their instruments, but are towards the younger age of the spectrum conducted by Sakow. After this came the Wind Symphony conducted by Kevin McKeown, a band meant for more advanced musicians, who notably played five movements of “Scenes from the Louvre”. And lastly went the Samohi Wind Ensemble, a group meant for the oldest and most elite of musicians at Samo. They played “Slava!”, a politically satirical overture by Leonard Bernstein, as well as a “Nocturne” (a dark, slow piece inspired by the night), and finished the evening with Frank Ticheli’s magnum opus, “Angels in the Architecture”. This was complete with two singers, Emma Brown (’17) and Cyara Pinkos (’17) singing on the balcony, as well as an organ, played by Alyssa French (’17), and a wide variety of auxiliary percussion and wind instruments, such as whirly tubes, wine glasses and trombones with plunger mutes. Outside Barnum, volunteering parents sold food, drinks and raffle tickets, the winner of which received free tickets to all band events for the rest of the year. All in all, it was a very eventful evening, filled with great music, and one that, as proud parents can confirm, showcased the majesty that the Samo Band Program has to offer.