Grades 5-12 instrumentalists, vocalists in spring concert
Instrumentalists and vocalists at Butterfield-Odin Public School (B-OPS) presented a Spring Pops Concert tonight (Monday, May 1), in the school’s gymnasium. Leading the students who perform in the school’s music department was Joshua Tonkin, Director of Music.
Bands participating included the Fifth Grade Band, Sixth Grade Band, Fifth/Sixth Grade Band Combo and the Concert Band. The vocal part of the program featured the Concert Choir and a variety of solos and ensembles, including the Butterfield-Odin Pop Choir.
Below is a photo gallery of the evening’s performers:
B-OPS DIRECTOR OF Music Joshua Tonkin conducts the combined fifth grade/sixth grade band in a rendition of the John Williams selection, “Star Wars,” arranged by Tonkin. The bands had earlier performed separately, the fifth grade sharing Theme from “Symphony No. 1,” by Johannes Brahms along with the Mexican Folk Song, “Mexican Hat Dance.” In their performance alone, sixth grade instrumentals played “The Man on the Flying Trapeze,” by George Leybourne and the African Folk Song, “Kum Ba Yah.”
SIXTH GRADE SAXOPHONISTS Luis Morales, left and Diana Rodriguez, right.
KEEPING THE BEAT on the bass drum is Emerson Fisch, a percussionist from the fifth grade.
MEMBERS OF THE Concert Band presented a pair of numbers, “Unchained Melody,” by H. Zaret and A. North, arranged by Paul Jennings and original pieces from “Beauty and the Beast,” by A. Menken, arranged by Paul Lavender.
BRASS TROMBONE TRIO. From left, Seth Pierson, Juan Morales and McKenna Steinbrink.
BRIANNA RINGEN IN a multi-tasking drum set performance.
MERCEDES LENNING ADDS the mellow tones of her woodwind instrument, the clarinet, to the Concert Band’s selections.
DIRECTOR TONKIN, LEFT, presents freshman Norely Sanchez, right, with the Concert Band’s “Most Improved Award,” recognizing her as an instrumentalist and student who has risen to meet challenges throughout the school year and stepped forward to volunteer to present solo pieces and perform for special occasions. In fact, Norely was a soloist on the flugelhorn in the song, “Unchained Melody.” The flugelhorn is a three-valved brass instrument pitched in B♭ that resembles a trumpet, but has a wider, conical bore.
ALSO HONORED AT the concert by Tonkin, left, was senior Brianna Ringen, right. Brianna was awarded the John Philip Sousa Award. A high school band director may present this award to one of his of her students to recognize musicianship, dependability, loyalty, leadership and cooperation.
THE TRIO OF, from left, Vanessa Rodriguez, Kaliana Xayaphonesongkham and Susan Fast share their own arrangement of the Josh Groban song, “You Raise Me Up.”
VICTORIA NAVARRETE PERFORMS “Close Your Eyes,” by Meghan Trainor.
“THIS IS GOSPEL,” by Panic! At the Disco was the vocal solo by Krisana Xayaphonesongkham. She was accompanied on piano by Brianna Ringen.
SAMUEL SMITH’S “LAY Me Down” was selected by Julie Saunders for her vocal solo.
DIRECTOR TONKIN, RIGHT, leads the Butterfield-Odin Pop Choir in the Leonard Cohen number, “Hallelujah.” Pop Choir members are, from left, Kevin Hernandez, Michael Nett, Devon Aguilar, Aracely Anaya, Leonardo Ambrocio-Sanchez, Kylie Fisch, Julie Saunders, Susan Fast, Kaliana Xayaphonesongkham and Vanessa Rodriguez.
THE CONCERT CHOIR focuses on their director, Joshua Tonkin. This choir shared “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” by G. Weiss and H. Peretti, arranged by Mark Brymera and “How Far I’ll Go” from the movie, Moana, by Lin-Manuel Miranda, arranged by Ed Lojeski.
LEONARDO AMBROCIO-SANCHEZ concentrates on the lyrics.
CONCERT CHOIR VOCALISTS. Front, Mason Lenning. Middle, Marvin Sengsouvanh, left and Justin Xaysongkham, right. Back, Jordan Keldenich, left and Rachel Joramo, right.
CONCERT CHOIR SOPRANO Sabrina Hanson.
DIRECTOR TONKIN, LEFT, also awarded a choral award to senior Krisana Xayaphonesongkham, right. Krisana received the National School Choral Award, the highest honor for high school choral performers. It recognizes the dedication and musical achievement of top male and female choral students.
