TJ’s Instrumental Music program wraps up the year.
Artwork by Mia Nogueira
On April 28th, the students involved in the Instrumental Music program performed their Spring Concert in the TJ auditorium.
Mastering an instrument is a feat that takes practice, skill, commitment, and determination. The Spring Concert is the perfect opportunity to showcase the progress and talent of students both new and old after a year of hard work.
The concert opened with the percussion playing a unique piece using everyday items one would find in a kitchen. “I was very impressed by the opening performance. It was very interesting to see music being performed using kitchen tools; blenders, pans, that sort of thing. It was very cool to see that,” said Senior Michael Kutz, who attended the concert.
After the percussion had finished recording, the string orchestra took the stage, performing various music from American to Shakespearian in style. When the strings had finished, different small ensembles performed pieces ranging from beginner to advanced.
During the entire experience, Seniors Luke DeGregori and Zach Salas emceed the concert with their characteristic humor. Many a bad joke was told, and many a silly stunt was pulled, but the two kept the ball rolling when there were technical difficulties with the instruments.
Before the band came out for the end of the show, a brief awards ceremony was held in order to honor those who had lettered, those who had performed outstandingly, and the seniors who would be gone the next year. It was a bittersweet time for the members of each branch of the instrumental music program as they honored one another, and bid adieu to their upperclassman leaders. Many awards were given out, including a scholarship for a band camp, awards for taking place in the Citywide Honors Band and String Orchestras, and the nationally recognized National Orchestra Award, given to DeGregori and Salas. Not to be outdone, DeGregori and Salas awarded Instrumental Music teacher Robin Johnson with a bouquet as a thank-you for the four years they had spent in her class.
When the awards had been given out, the band returned the stage to finish the concert. Though the concert may have not been comparable to the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Johnson was pleased with the work her students had accomplished. “I was proud of the kids who showed up, stuck with [the program] the entire time, and the progress we all made,” said Johnson.
Luke DeGregori had similar sentiments regarding the show, saying that he too saw progress from the underclassmen. “I think there were lots of people who came in barely knowing how to play, and they walked out way better than I was at that point in my own [musical] career,” said DeGregori.
With many beginners picking up instruments up for the first time, it is nigh impossible to turn unskilled fingers and lungs into vessels that create music, but Johnson has pushed through it until the end. “I think Mrs. Johnson did well preparing us for it; it wasn’t perfect, naturally, but overall I think what really stood out was the improvement. The jump that we made from where we were at the beginning of the year to where we are now is huge,” said DeGregori.
Though the concert may have had its sticky situations, the advancement made by the Instrumental Music program at TJ has been momentous, crucial, and yes, instrumental to its continued success.
