March: The Month of Music

March%3A+The+Month+of+Music

Music Department’s Winter Concert

The Oakmont Music Department showcased its annual winter concert this past week where the Concert Choir, Select Choir, Jazz Band, Concert Band, Winter Guard, and Winter Percussion all got to perform what they have been working on for the past few months. 

The Concert Choir performed two pieces, Snow on Snow and Heaven is a Place on Earth. The concert choir meets every other school day to prepare for their performances. 

Select Choir, an ensemble that meets once a week, performed three pieces! If I Fell, Everything, and Times They are a Changin’ with some featured soloists in the first and third pieces. 

Jazz Band performed three charts, Things Ain’t What They Used To Be, My Foolish Heart, and Recorda Me. The second chart is a feature for the lead alto of the band, Joe Barrows. After rehearsing biweekly for the past few months, the Jazz band competed in their first MAJE competition of the year on the day before the concert and received a silver medal along with an invite to states! Three members of the ensemble received excellence awards: Joe Barrows, Michael Leblanc, and Sam Flannery. 

Next to perform was the Concert Band who played Salute to the Colors, Earth and Sky, and The Witch and the Saint. With a wide variety of pieces, there were individual players that were able to be featured along with the second piece showcasing the talent of the rhythm section. This is an ensemble that meets every other school week (opposite days to the concert choir). 

Following these four ensembles came the Winter Guard who performed their show Checkmate – very fast-paced and energetic show with featured duets for each senior and a very well-structured show. 

Ending the concert was the Winter Percussion performing their show: United We Stand. A show that ranges from “Ballroom dance” to putting up barriers until the two sides can unite.

AWRSD District Choir Night – Wednesday, March 22nd

All of the choirs in the district got together to showcase their talent for a fully packed auditorium.

Each school’s choirs performed its own pieces for the audience. John R. Briggs Elementary started the night off, then Westminister Elementary, Overlook Middle School choir followed, then Oakmont’s Concert Choir, and ending with Oakmont’s Select Choir.

The 150 vocalists ended the night with three combined pieces, The Star Spangled Banner, Nothing More, and Africa. 

Oakmont’s principal, Mr. Lizotte attended the concert last night and stated, “Congratulations to the music dept on another very successful and fun District Choral night.  It is great to see the progress from elementary to High School.  I love the raw energy and enthusiasm of the elementary kids and then hearing some of our amazing vocalists and soloists. ”

The music departments from each district all look forward to their next performance, the District Band Night, next Wednesday, March 29!

Oakmont’s Jazz Band Won Gold!

On Saturday the Jazz Band attended the MAJE State Finals at Norwood High School and won GOLD! They now have the opportunity to attend the Hatch Shell Showcase on May 7 where they will perform for a large audience in Boston. This is the first time since 2016 that Oakmont has had this opportunity so it is very exciting!!