The concert band and Jazz Band members have a busy schedule this week.
First, they will perform at the Einstein Residence Center Thursday afternoon for the retirement home’s noontime concert series.
Thursday evening, April 21, they will perform at the high-school spring concert at 7 p.m. in the MP Room.
Finally, on Friday, they will play at Grandparents’ Day.
At the spring concert, the Jazz Band and concert band will combine to play two jazz pieces, and the concert band will play three separate pieces. Director Bob Ratcliff gives a preview of what to look for in each song at the spring concert.
The two jazz pieces are by Thed Jones.
Ratcliff said he chose “A Child Is Born” because the original parts for saxophone are being played by flutes.
Senior Lara Kong will be playing an alto flute, an instrument that isn’t common, according to Ratcliff.
There is also a solo featuring a flugelhorn, which is similar to a trumpet. Freshman Lily Brown will be playing this solo on violin.
“(So the) song eventually becomes a violin feature,” Ratcliff said.
He admitted that a violin in a jazz band is a little unusual.
“I like to feature the violin on ballads because when we go to competition, judges like that because it’s different,” he said.
Additionally, junior Colby Conner has a piano solo at the beginning.
“Back Bone,” a blues shuffle, will feature juniors Adam Ketchum on trombone and Keaton Ochoa on guitar.
The three concert pieces will feature seniors, something Ratcliff tries to do at the spring concert.
“I specifically chose the three pieces for those three seniors,” Ratcliff said. “They’re kind of like these mini-concertos.”
“Flight of Fancy” features Kong on the flute.
“Trumpeter’s Lullaby” features Micaela Bennett-Smith on trumpet.
“The Grumbly Old Bear” features Grant Miner on bari sax. “And it sounds like a grumbly old bear,” Ratcliff said.
