Music Department Kicks Off First Performance of the Year
Sep 17, 2021
The music department is set to kick off its first performance of the year at Dessert Night on Sept. 18.
“Dessert Night is a preview night for the music ensembles here at GEHS, so what we do is take our top ensembles and they prepare fun music in order to bring people and let them know we’re working really hard on music,” choir director Kelli Baker said.
On Saturday, band, choir, and orchestra will be performing while the school’s culinary students prepare desserts for anyone who shows up and pays the $5 admission fee at the commons.
“I think that it’s especially important now after a pandemic that basically shut down the performing arts for over a year – to show people we are still performing, still working on things, still able to make music even if we have masks.”
— Mrs. Kelli Baker
“I think that it’s especially important now after a pandemic that basically shut down the performing arts for over a year,” Mrs. Baker said. “To show people we are still performing, still working on things, still able to make music even if we have masks.”
The choir’s top ensemble, Madrigals, is going to be performing two pieces at the event. The pieces are “Treat People With Kindness” by Harry Styles and “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
“Our sophomores are just working so hard and rising to the occasion, they’re meeting every expectation I set out there, as well as our upperclassmen have become the most amazing leaders and mentors for those sophomores as well,” Mrs. Baker said.
The choir is ready for the upcoming event and feels prepared.
“I think the group [Madrigals] is 100% ready to go. We’ve been working hard the entire semester so far and it’s going great and will be a great performance,” sophomore Conner Booton said.
Mr. Will Biggs, the director of the band, is also excited to see all the support for the music ensembles here at GEHS.
“I just love seeing the patrons support our program so it’s great to have them come out and listen,” Mr. Biggs said.
The songs being performed by Jazz Band are “Africa” by Toto, “Chattanooga Choo Choo” by Mark Gordon and Harry Warren, and “Vehicle.”
“I like all of [the songs], they are pretty upbeat,” senior Ella Falkner said.
The last ensemble that will be performing is the Chamber Orchestra.
“It’s a chance for the parents to see what we’ve got coming up. It’s a chance for the chamber orchestra to showcase what they do and it’s kinda a preview for the rest of the year,” Chamber Orchestra Director Mrs. Heidi Gunderson said.
They will be performing the songs “Moondance “by Van Morrison and “Sleeping Beauty Waltz” by Tchaikovsky.
“I’m feeling pretty confident. These two songs, they’re not super technical but I think that together as a group we sound pretty good,” senior Jamie Pemberton said.
