September 8, 2010
HOME > News > 2009 > 12-December

LHS Choir, Jazz Band and Wind Ensemble thrills crowd

By AVA BARLOW, Graphic Staff Writer

December 24, 2009 - The Leonard High School Choir, Jazz Band and Wind Ensemble performed their rendition of Christmas Around the World to a full house on Thursday night, singing and playing several songs to the delight of those in attendance. Many had supported the band by attending a baked potato supper fund raiser for the spring trip.

The first song for the evening was O Come, All Ye Faithful, sung a cappella with one verse sung in Latin. Silent Night was explained as a song written in 44 different languages, and was also sung a cappella with a verse sung in German. Carol of the Bells was sung with an Ukranian flavor, in a round and Carol of the Russian Children with a Russian sound and Jennifer Stidham playing an oboe solo. On The Little Drummer Boy, April Jones, Joseph Guajardo and Owen Brown accompanied the choir in a small percussion group. Away in the Manger has been written in 41 different musical pieces, using the same basic words and the choir sang one of those variations. Christmas Time is Here and Baby, Its Cold Outside completed the heartwarming concert by the choir.

The brand new Jazz Band congregated in the backstage area while Director Matt Stidham introduced the jazz band concept to those in attendance. Stidham explained that each piece would be unique for the players, number of players and types of instruments being played with each piece having a featured player. The Jazz Band is made up of three saxophones, three clarinets, four trumpets, drums, bass guitar, baritone and miscellaneous percussion instruments.

In the first number, Jumpin at the Woodside, Jordan Jones was featured on tenor saxophone in a saxophone trio with Tylar Brown and Wesley Orr. Tammy Adelman was featured on clarinet in SWonderful while Paige Watson was on drums, Brooke Kay and Anne Burke on clarinets and Matt Stidham accompanying on bass guitar. Wesley Orr was featured on alto saxophone in As Time Goes By with Mason Butler on trumpet, Josh Wilcox on bass guitar, Connie Guajardo on drums and Miranda Young on trumpet. Andrew Burnes played trumpet in Tea for Two while a five-piece percussion group, each added their own special Latin sound effect. Percussion members were Josh Wilcox, Connie Guajardo, Wesley Orr, Paige Watson and Owen Brown playing, along with Jackie Jones and Miranda Young on trumpets. Jackie Jones was the next featured jazz band member on baritone in avariety of Dont Sit Under the Apple Tree with Tammy Adelman, Owen Brown, Mason Butler, and Miranda Young with Matt Stidham on bass guitar. Tylar Brown was featured in In The Mood on bari saxophone while Paige Watson played drums, Jordan Jones tenor sax, Josh Wilcox bass guitar, Julie Harvey on trumpetand Anne Burke added clarinet to the perfect mixture to create a crowd-pleasing sound. Please Come Home for Christmas was performed by Jordan Jones, playing a solo on tenor sax in a rendition of the song by Matt Stidham with the LHS Jazz Band instruments in mind. Every Jazz Band instrumentalist played during this song and with the final note the applause rose from the crowd and turned into a standing ovation for the Jazz Band performance.

The crowd waited expectantly while the LHS Wind Ensemble took their places. Members of the Wind Ensemble are Tammy Adelmann, Bailey Anderson, Brooke Bailey, Jason Barzee, Shane Bowen, Tylar Brown, Owen Brown, Gavin Buckaloo, Anne Burke, Andrew Burnes, Michael Flanagan, Jessie Guajardo, Connie Guajardo, Joseph Guajardo, Elise Hamilton, Julie Harvey, Nicholas Hetherington, April Jones, Jackie Jones, Jordan Jones, Brooke Kay, Rebekah King, Wesley Orr, Cody Smallwood, Caleb Simmons, Michael St. George, Kylie Weaver and Miranda Young. The Wind Ensemble played Sleigh Ride, Ukranian Bell Carol, a Christmas Sing-A-Long where the band played and the crowd joined in singing on one verse of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, O Come, All Ye Faithful, Deck the Halls, Silent Night, The First Noel, Joy to the World, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas and the final song of the program was A Christmas Festival. Once again the parents, family and friends in attendance showed their appreciation for the entire program with a long season of applause.

Jennifer and Matt Stidham were presented Christmas presents from members of the band for their long hours of dedication in teaching the choir, jazz band and wind ensemble.