The spring concert season is in full bloom in the Woodland Hills School District. The WHSD Department of Music presented the first of two high school concerts on Tuesday evening as the percussion ensemble, advanced choir, ninth grade band, and high school concert band all performed.
The percussion ensemble opened the show with "Curse of Tortuga," under the direction of Mr. Robert Carr. The advanced choir took center stage next, under the direction of Ms. Alicia Scaramuzzo. The choir performed four songs, each with a different flavor. The choir opened with the Italian "O Bella Ciao" and played around with their scales on "Galop." "Yonder Come Day" featured Lamar Johnson as a soloist, while Cayden Briston and Adore McFadden had solos on the Motown classic "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" to close out the choir's set.
The ninth grade band took the stage for three pieces, beginning with a blend of patriotic tunes in Henry Mancini's "The Great Race March." The band finished with the Irish influenced "Down by the Salley Gardens" and the Latin-infused "Remember Me" from the film "Coco."
The concert band then came on stage for four songs, starting with the Queen classic "Don't Stop Me Now." Following performances of "Let the Spirit Roar" and Gustav Holst's "Second Suite in F (Movement 1)," the concert band finished their set with "African Wildlife," in which each instrument represented a different animal found on the African savanna.
Mr. Carr also took a moment to recognize the annual band award recipients. Each year, two seniors are recognized with awards - one selected by Mr. Carr and one selected by students in the various band ensembles. Liam Blaney and Elizabeth Geyer were the recipients of this year's awards.
The ninth grade band returned and joined the concert band as well as staff members from the music department to close out the evening with a medley from the musical "Wicked."
The second high school concert, which will feature the chamber choir, jazz band, and orchestras, will take place on Thursday, May 15. Dickson will have its two concerts at the high school, with the first taking place on Wednesday, May 14 and the second taking place on Wednesday, May 21. The combined fifth grade elementary concert will be held at Turtle Creek Elementary STEAM Academy on Tuesday, May 20. All shows start at 7 p.m.