The Bulkeley Middle School musicians took the stage to entertain a filled auditorium for almost two hours on May 7.
“This was my last middle school concert. I was hoping it would go well,” said eighth grader Janey D’Ordine, who played the alto saxophone with the jazz and concert bands before singing with the show choir and seventh and eighth grade chorus.
The sixth grade band opened the night with four songs, the final one being Klaus Badelt’s “Pirates of the Caribbean.” The Jazz Band followed with two pieces, including Van Morrison’s hit, “Moondance,” that featured solos by Julio Cirell, Aya Nobel, McKenna Bresnahan, Skye D’Ordine and Janey D’Ordine.
“I liked doing Moondance with the jazz band. I think it’s really strong and it had a bunch of solos,” said Janey D’Ordine.
The seventh and eighth grade band performed four songs, closing its set with Alan Silvestri’s “Avengers Theme.”
The choruses were next. The sixth grade chorus ended its session with the Kansas classic, “Dust in the Wind,” accompanied by high school students Joe Askin on guitar and Alan Raitt on violin.
The show choir and seventh and eighth grade chorus performances were highlighted by Ruth Morris Gray’s Latin song, “Omnis Terra.”
“We sound really good and I really like the high notes at the end,” said eighth grader Skye Weed of “Omnis Terra.”
The night ended with the combined sixth, seventh and eighth grade chorus singing “Never Ending Story” by Georgio Moroder and Keith Forsey.
“It feels fun to sing before an audience because a lot of people seem to enjoy it,” said eighth grader Alannah Jarvis.
Sixth grade band honorees: Aurora Dwyer *+=; Abigail DiDio +=. Sixth grade chorus honorees: Ella Famiglietti *; Annalise Knapp *=
Seventh/eighth grade band honorees: Julio Cirell ^; Skye D’Ordine ^; McKenna Bresnahan ^+=; Bianca Kappeller ^; Aya Nobel ^; Kailani Waltzer ^; Charlotte Yamashita ^; Janey D’Ordine ^; Van Griffin ^=; Cass Chang ^; Anastella Elia ^; Luke Allman ^; Derek Dib *; Adelina Knapp ^+=; Sofia Garcia-Santiago ^; Charles Liptay ^; Joseph Frischknecht ^; Declan Lockwood ^
Seventh/eighth grade chorus: McKenna Bresnahan *+=; Janey D’Ordine *+=; Skye D’Ordine *+=; Kennedy DiPalo *; Vika Hasselmark +=; Alannah Jarvis =; Bianca Kappeller *+=; Aya Nobel *+=; Mela Palms +; Cyan Stiker *; Kailani Waltzer *=; Mia Zagami *
*Show choir member
^Jazz band
+DCMEA All County
= NYSSMA Solo Festival