B-OPS bands, choirs hold final concert of school year
It was an evening of spring mood music – with a thunderclap punctuating the bands and choirs – as the Butterfield-Odin Public School (B-OPS) Music Department held its final concert of the 2015-2016 school year.
Performers included the 5th-/6th-Grade Band, 6th-Grade Band, 7th-/8th-Grade Choir, 7th-/8th-Grade Band, 7-12 Mass Band, Senior High Band, Senior High Choir, Mass Women’s Choir and Jazz Band.
Also part of the evening’s event was the recognition of members of the Class of 2016 who participate in band, choir – or both. Those seniors are Mackenzie Blickem, Shanon Bratland, Paul Hanson, Dylan Hovdet, Hayley Johnson Gabrielle Kruchek, Wong Lee and Derek Meyer.
Kurt Blomgren, father of the late Ross Blomgren, who was a member of this year’s graduating class, was also a part of the program, offering a donation in the memory of Ross to the school’s music department.
B-OPS Principal Lisa Shellum shared a vocal rendition of “Forever Young” to those students participating in the musical entertainment, as well.
The B-OPS Director of Bands is Molly Fridstrom, with Sarah Cartwright the Director of Choirs.
Following is a photo gallery from the Monday evening concert:
THE 5TH-/6TH-Grade Band, pictured above, shared the selection Dark Towers by James Curnow. The 6th-Grade Band also played the number, One Call Away, an arrangement by the Director of Bands Molly Fridstrom.
SO SAY GERONIMO! Say Geronimo! The female voices of the 7th-8th-Grade Choir, under the direction of Sarah Cartwright, punctuate the song Geronimo, arranged by Roger Emerson, with dance movements. Front, Jennifer Perez, left, and Andrea Cornejo, right. Middle, Stephanie Kotten. Back, Elisabeth Pankratz, left, and Gia Zender, right.
ADDING THEIR DEEPER male voices to the song are, front, Jordan Dougherty, left and Kevin Hernandez, right and back, Noah Hanson, left, and Tyler Wallert, right. The junior high vocal group also performed Lean On Me, by Bill Withers, with soloists Jennifer Perez, Kevin Hernandez and Susan Fast.
DIRECTOR FRIDSTROM LED the 7th-/8th-Grade Band in two numbers, Star Wars Main Theme, arranged by Carl Strommen and Batmen Theme, arranged by Mike Story.
JUNIOR HIGH BAND flutist Susan Fast.
MUSICIANS FROM Grades 7 through 12 then joined instruments for a Mass Band presentation of Pirates of the Caribbean, arranged by Michael Sweeney.
SPANNING THE YEARS between Junior High and Senior High instrumentalists can be found in this photo. At front from the Senior High Band is alto saxophonist Derek Meyer. At back, from left, on baritone, Lukas Pierson of the Senior High Band, while, on trombone are Junior High Band members Seth Pierson, Macyn Hirschman and Juan Morales.
QUEEN IN CONCERT, arranged by Jay Bocook (including We Will Rock You, Bohemian Rhapsody, Another One Bites The Dust and We Are the Champions) rocked the house – as thunder rolled the heavens. Front, on tenor saxophone, Hayley Johnson and, at back, Mackenzie Blickem on trumpet.
THE SENIOR HIGH Band also presented the selection, The Simpsons, arranged by Eric Wilson. Dylan Hovdet, above, added the deep brass sounds of the tuba for the number.
PACING THE SENIOR High Band songs were the percussionists, including, at front, Brianna Ringen on the drum set and, at back, Ethan Sykes on tympani.
THE FIRST NUMBER sung by the Senior High Choir, “Stars I Shall Find,” by Victor C. Johnson, was dedicated to the memory of the late Ross Blomgren.
THE SENIOR HIGH Choir also sang an arrangement of Stitches by Jacob Narverud. With all eyes on Director Cartwright are front, from left, Devon Aguilar, Leonardo Ambrocio-Sanchez and Wong Lee and back, Tiana Sengchan, left, and Anthony Rodriguez, right.
WOMEN VOCALISTS FROM Grades 7 through 12 joined voices on a Philip Lawson arrangement of The Rose.
PLAYING LIVIN’ ON A Prayer, arranged by Director Fridstrom, was the Jazz Band. Front, on clarinet at left, Kaliana Xayaphonesongkham and on flute at right, Jennifer Perez. Middle row from left, Aaron Rodriguez and Mackenzie Blickem on trumpet; Leonardo Ambrocio-Sanchez on alto sax; Director Molly Fridstrom on tenor sax and on piano, Julie Saunders. Back, from left, percussionists Wong Lee, Ethan Sykes and Brianna Ringen, and, on electric guitar, Aracely Anaya.
