Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Students from across the region come together in Waitsburg
Director Kevin Swisher, from Hanford High School, leads hundreds of musicians as they rehearsed in the Waitsburg High School auditorium last Wednesday, in preparation for a mass band and choir concert later that night.
Kevin Swisher directs band students during Wednesday's rehearsal.
WAITSBURG – Nearly 250 student musicians, from eleven area schools, joined together to perform at a mass band and choir concert held at the Waitsburg High School gymnasium on Wed., Oct. 21.
The mass choir was directed by Kraig Scott, who teaches organ and directs the choral studies program at Walla Walla University. Scott has played organist recitals throughout North America, Europe, and the Far East. His most recent travels as a choral conductor took him to a choir festival in Kiev, Ukraine, where he presented seminars, workshops, and led a 400-voice choir.
The mass choir opened with "Flip, Flop, Fly," by Calhoune and Turner, from the movie Chicken Run. The piece included a coronet solo by Waitsburg Band Director Brad Green. Next up was "Kyrie Eleison," composed by former Walla Walla teacher Adnrea Klouse. The choir's finale was a stirring rendition of "Medly from Phanton of the Opera," by Weber.
Green, assisted by his five-year-old granddaughter, Ella Noack, introduced the mass band. Noack was dressed as Iron Man in honor of the band's finale piece, "The Avengers."
The mass band was directed by Kevin Swisher who is a music education teacher at Hanford High School. Swisher is an active clinician and adjudicator for marching band, jazz band and wind band festivals. His wind ensemble performed at the 2014 Music for All National Concert Band Festival.
The band opened with "Encanto" by Smith, followed by "The Red Covered Bridge" by Sheldon and closed the concert with "The Avengers" by Silvestri.
Midway through the band performance, Director Nick Wright, of Oaksdale, addressed the audience, asking, "Are you ready for some fun?" He then pulled the percussionists to the front of the band. Using only drumsticks, hands, and chairs, the percussionists played a rousing group solo.
Participating schools and directors were: Asotin, Shawn Bowman; Clarkston, Greg Kolar; Colfax, Cary Cammack; Dayton, Scott Sumner; Garfield/Palouse, Matt Zook; LaCrosse, Mary Chastain; Kahlotus/Washtucna, Lora Hille; Oakesdale, Nick Wright; St. John-Endicott, Billy Ray, Jr.; Touchet, Sonny Elsasser; Waitsburg, Brad Green.
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