Samo Band leads a fortissimo start for indoor concerts
Matilde Martinez, Staff Writer
On Oct. 26, the Samo band program became the first in the district to have an indoor Fall Concert since the beginning of the pandemic. Hosted in Barnum Hall, the Concert and Symphonic Bands, Symphonic Winds, Wind Symphony and Wind Ensemble performed their compositions for friends and family. Band director, Terry Sakow, opened the night with a bit of comedy, alluding to the pressing time away.
“Welcome. It’s been a long time. I couldn’t find my black shoes because it’s been over a year since I’ve worn them,” Sakow said.
True to his words, the concert program announced the event as a return of the bands. Sakow directed “Infinite Horizons” and “Aventura” for the Concert and Symphonic Bands, and a selection of the Halloween classic “Nightmare Before Christmas” and the sea-worthy “Chanteys” for the Symphonic Winds. Kevin McKeown, Samo’s other Band director, led the Wind Symphony in “Danse Bohémien” and the royal “El Camino Real,” as well as the Wind Ensemble in the haunting “Danse Macabre” and resonating “Come Sunday.”
However, the return of the bands didn’t come without its challenges. Only a couple of weeks ago, all bands were required to practice outdoors and held rehearsals in the Greek Theater. There, they risked distraction from the hustle and bustle of busy Santa Monica and did not have the same acoustics as in the band room. The switch to indoor practices on Oct. 21, five days before the concert, also meant tighter safety measures. Phoebe Benun (’25), alto saxophonist for the Concert band, carefully weighs the pros and cons.
“We were… surrounded by PE classes, construction, airplanes, and raging winds… It was extremely difficult to stay on task… Unfortunately, rehearsing inside meant bulky bags over our instruments and special openings in our masks where we could insert our mouthpieces. Overall, the Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) was definitely worth the peace and quiet that came with being indoors,” Benun said.
In addition, students could only invite a limited number of guests, and they had to demonstrate a complete vaccination record or a negative PCR test upon entry to Barnum. The transition from virtual playing to in-person concerts was also challenging for some students, such as Kate Woodhall (’24), flutist for the Wind Ensemble.
“It’s really exciting — and nerve-wracking — being back to live performances after a year of distance learning. There’s something nice about the concert’s nervous energy that can’t be replicated at home,” Woodhall said.
Nevertheless, the experience was a rewarding one across the ensembles.
“It was exciting to finally be able to share how much work we had put into our pieces this year, and I had a lot of fun,” Benun said.
Woodhall shares the same thoughts and attributes part of the success to Sakow and McKeown.
“I’m grateful to the wonderful music teachers who have inspired us to try our best. They made this experience so fun and rewarding… I think it’s amazing how far we’ve come in this turbulent time,” Woodhall said.
With a flourish of his baton and a final crescendo, McKewon and the Wind Ensemble ended the last piece of the night, receiving thunderous applause. and Samo’s Marching Band will come on stage again on Jan. 14, 2022 for their winter concert.
Photo by Matilde Martinez