Percussion in the Spotlight

Percussion+in+the+Spotlight

Anna Massengale, Staff Writer

April 13th marked the first ever concert of all percussion: an hour of drums, xylophones and bells. Not only has the high school percussion shown themselves to be able to carry a concert of their very own, but the middle school percussion joined in the festivities as well. The event was the idea of Mr. Kyle Lutes, the assistant band director, to have this Night of Percussion. He had put on the event at his previous job for years and wanted to do it with this band as well.

Sophomore Morgan Sargent performs her percussion solo.

“It was something everyone was excited about, because we usually don’t get a whole concert dedicated to ourselves, and it was something new and different for the community to come see,” Sophomore Morgan Sargent commented. The middle schoolers performance was celebrated by Sargent, “I think they did amazing for it being their first concert. None of them had ever done anything like this before, but the high schoolers are used to performing on stage and using all these different types of instruments. It was fun getting to know them because they are the future drum line after a lot of us graduate, and they are going to do amazing things”.

After the middle school was finished they walked off the stage and the high schoolers performed a song at the front of the stage. One by one, each student came out from the audience and joined in. According to Sargent, “The high schoolers killed it!”

There were two solos performed by Sargent and senior Kennith Mott. While Mott performed a snare solo, Sargent performed the marimba solo that she had previously performed at the Solo-Ensemble Competition. Although Sargent was nervous with everyone looking at her, she thought she performed it in a immaculate fashion.
It was hard to set up the stage after each group performed. Every group had different set up for their own songs. Sargent explained,“It was a bit confusing you had to remember where to go, what the order of the music was, and if you had all the instruments you needed for your piece. Some people got so confused that they played on a wrong instrument for a solo. But the percussion pulled it off. Each group had the instruments or drums they needed for the right songs over all. I can’t wait for the next Night of Percussion!”