District musicians and singers are making their final preparations for the upcoming winter concerts where they’ll perform in front of family and friends.
The Rhinebeck High School winter concert kicks off the festivities on Dec. 4 at 7 p.m.
“I’m very excited. I think it will go very well,” said Genevieve Wahlgren, a junior clarinet player in the band. “We went to Marist the other day to practice with their band.
“I think we’re concert ready.”
Senior Shea Gallagher and junior Amaia Hayes will be performing with both the band and chorus.
“It’s the vibe of it all,” said Gallagher, who plays the clarinet. “It’s real nice because you practice for all these months for this show. It’s nice when people come and they appreciate your music and you appreciate them being there.”
Hayes added, “Being in chorus and band, I’ve been working pretty hard to learn all the pieces. I’m super excited.”
The high school band announced it will be performing Jerry Bilik’s “Block M,” JaRod Hall’s “Across the Alaskan Sky,” and Robert W. Smith’s “Encanto.” The chorus will sing four songs – Elaine Hagenberg’s “Measure me Sky!,” Jeffrey Biegel’s “Hanukah Fantasy,” John Williams’ “Somewhere in my Memory,” and Walter Kent’s “I’ll be Home for Christmas.”
Gallagher highlighted “Block M” because it’s a “challenging piece we’ve struggled on for quite some time and I’m excited to see how it goes.”
Hayes is excited to perform “Across the Alaskan Snow.”
“It’s really fun to play on the flute,” she said.
The elementary and middle schools will be having their concerts a week later. Chancellor Livingston Elementary School will have its concerts on Dec. 11 with the third and fourth grade choruses performing together at 6:15 p.m. The fifth grade concert will follow at 7:15 p.m. with the chorus, band, vocal ensemble, select band and show choir.
“Students are working hard and are very excited to be performing for family and friends,” said Brielle Grove, CLS choral director.
The Bulkeley Middle School winter concert concludes the series of district shows on Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.
“We are incredibly proud of all that our students have accomplished over the past three months, and we look forward to sharing our music with the community,” said Marla Ulrich, band director.
Lexi Torres, an eighth grader who has been playing the clarinet since fourth grade, is ready.
“A lot of people should come and watch because we put a lot of hard work and time into it. It’s a beautiful performance to see,” she said. “Our band teacher Ms. Ulrich finds great pieces for us and we have solos, it just goes really well together.”