The Lucerne Valley Middle High School music department performed a diverse collection at Thursday’s well-attended “A Winter Celebration” concert in the school gymnasium.
Directed by teacher Amy James-Forrette, the program began with the High School String Orchestra performing “Impulse” for beginning orchestra by Brian Balmages and second-year members playing the more challenging “Cripple Creek” arranged by Edmund J. Siennicki.
The Middle School Beginning Band, which consists of beginning wind and percussion instrumentalists, played the light-hearted, whimsical “Jester Dance” by Mekel Rogers.
The High School Choir, which teacher Kelli Papiernik accompanied on piano, performed three songs. The set began with the traditional German carol “The Snow Carol (Still, Still, Still)” arranged by Audrey Snyder, which evokes images of peaceful snowy evenings. The second song was “Omnia Vincit Amor,” an upbeat piece containing a positive message of love in Latin. For the final choir song, singer Jenae Rankin sang a solo during “The North Wind.”
The new Middle School String Orchestra demonstrated their progress with “Miniature Symphony Mvt 1, Modest March” by Richard Meyer.” The orchestra is comprised of all of the middle school string players at LVMS. All musicians are new to their instrument. The “Modest March” portion showcased the musicians playing pizzicato, a plucking technique meant to provide a light and pleasant feel.
The final segment was performed by the High School Band, a combination of the Advanced Band and High School “Intro to Band” students. Two eighth-graders earned a spot in the Advanced Band due to their exceptional performance last year. The advanced players performed “Woodlake March” and the full ensemble finished with “Ancient Hunters.”
THE MUSICIANS:
High School String Orchestra
High School String Orchestra second-year players: violinists Aloura Cook and Jacqueline Jimenez; cellists Noemy Magdaleno-Raygoza and Walter Williams. Other members of the orchestra: violin: Shaun Conboy, Bruce Fowler, Christian Gutierrez, Kimberly Luna; double base: Aiden Fearn, Savannah Porter, Connor Rudolph; viola: Jesse Gutierrez, Emma Nefferdorf; cello: Oliver Crouse, Robert Palmer, Harlee Sheehan.
Middle School Beginning Band
Flute: Natalee Hite, Elizabeth Rick; alto saxophone: Angel Cortes, Rochelle DuBoise; trombone, William Miller-Rosemier, Gabriel Smith; clarinet: Elizabeth Davis, Lesly Guzman, Belinda Sanchez; trumpet: Alexander Guzman, Diego Juarez, Leonel Lopez; percussion: Yanet Alcazar, Adrian Macias.
High School Choir
Daisy Alonzo, Alexis Bolanos, Jocelyn Cossio Avelar, Courtney Davis, Pearl Davis, Olivia Edwards, Christina Michal, Shirley Moreno, Lyric Pearson, Alexander Ramos, Jenae Rankin, Kayla Reyes, Blaze Rivera, Giselle Silva, Brita Vaughn, Cody Vaughn, Hannah Whitcanack.
Middle School String Orchestra
Violin: Hannah Alpizar, Zoey Davis, Meilani Nguyen, Alexsia Sanchez Mendoza, Savannah Womack; double bass: Aydin Stewart; viola: Samuel Arreola, Talledega Bronas, Elizabeth Rick, Derrick Tyler; cello: Kayden Davis, Serenity Petroff, Dakota Ward.
High School Band
Advanced Band members: flute: Lillianna Forsythe, Kayla Reyes; alto saxophone: Walter Williams; clarinet: Christina Michal, Raven Sailata; trumpet: Kylee Lambert, Kevin Pedro Angeles; percussion: Thomas Cota
Other High School Band members: flute: Toni Moreno; alto saxophone: Kelley Conboy; trombone, Lucian Kennedy; euphonium: Laela Mata; clarinet: Jessica Morales, Katrena Richard, Sara Urrutia; trumpet: Allen McCoy; percussion: Linda Cossio Avelar, Raymond Diaz.