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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter
After two sold out “Spaghetti with Santa” events at Medfield High School, there is no doubt that the students and community are dedicated to Medfield’s music program.
On December 13, the students showed their love for music and commitment to their program at the annual winter concert, featuring the concert choir and band.
The choir shuffled onto the stage at Medfield High School, quickly finding their place on the risers. With their eyes on choral director Ann Marie Tremblay, they began singing the Ukrainian New Year’s song, “Carol of the Bells.” After several songs combining both the male and female singers, the high school boys gathered at the front of the stage to sing “The Two Sisters” together, featuring soloist Michael O’Leary.
Douglas Olsen conducts the Medfield High School concert band’s performance of ‘The Ascension’ from Robert Smith’s ‘The Divine Comedy.’
The girls also sang together, performing “Lunar Lullaby” before the gentlemen returned to the stage and the entire concert chorus sang a gospel-style rendition of “How Can I Keep from Singing?” with soloists Harry Dorer, Alessandra Kelley, and Zoey Pollard.
“They are extraordinary individuals,” Tremblay said of her students. “I’m so lucky to spend every day with them. It’s just awesome to work with them.”
As the chorus helped break down the risers and set up for the band, the audience expressed its pride for the town’s enthusiasm for music. The auditorium, almost completely filled with friends and family members of the performers, then settled down once director Douglas Olsen joined the band on stage to continue the concert.
The band began with an impressive performance of two parts of Gustav Holst’s “First Suite in E-flat for Military Band,” which was originally written to bring marching bands into the performance hall.
At last year’s concert, the band performed Robert Smith’s “The Inferno” from “The Divine Comedy.” This year, the MHS concert band continued Dante’s journey with “The Ascension.”
Although the concert band usually does not feature any vocals, Olsen arranged for several of the male students to chant during the song.
After Olsen acknowledged the skilled players who were accepted into the district ensembles, the band finished the concert with the national march of the United States, “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” which featured MHS senior Christian Daniele, a first-year flute player.
With outstanding performances from both the concert choir and concert band, the audience exited the high school, humming and tapping the beats they enjoyed just moments ago.
Medfield High singer Zoey Pollard performs a solo during the concert choir’s performance of ‘How Can I Keep from Singing?’
