Watkins Mill musicians perform in Spring concert
Jazz Band members warm up before the show
Student musicians of Watkins Mill performed in the in-school spring concert on May 8, in the O’Shea Theater, to show off their hard work and improvement in musical skills.
The concert was performed by the full orchestra, solo band, solo orchestra, jazz ensemble along with the choral groups: Full choir and Chamber singers. Soloists were also featured. The students “have been putting a lot of hard work into [the concert music],” said instrumental music director Peter Kielar.
Musicians in band, choir, and orchestra (BCO) spent several months preparing music for the concert. “We worked pretty hard on each piece,” junior chamber singer Jamie Montoya said. “We try our best… to make our music sound great.”
“I think the concert went okay, there was some things that each person could have done better,” junior flutist Heidy Figueroa-Pena said. Performing lets students gain experience in stage presence.
This is the second in-school concert of the year for the WMHS music program. Concerts are usually held after school in the evenings for friends and family. Some students are unable to attend these evening concerts, and having an in school concert allows the student musicians to perform for their peers.
“It felt really fun [to perform for peers]. I’m showing [my peers] what a flutist can do,” sophomore flutist Michael Mallonga said. Students in the music program enjoy being part of it. “Band is so much fun,” Mallonga added.
The concert also provides an opportunity for prospective musicians to see the music program in action. It can encourage students to join the music programs at WMHS. “I think that our music program is very underrated,” sophomore multi-instrumentalist Jwoyal Ranjit said. “If you just give it a chance, it can be very fun.”
Joining the program lets students “make new friends and [gain a] family,” Figueroa-Pena added.
The orchestra is preparing music to be presented on senior awards night, May 25. The full orchestra is practicing for the upcoming performance at graduation in June.
“The goal is always a performance at the end, so you need to have that goal and… experience,” Kielar added.
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