7/28/2019 ElizabethPenava002 Pulse Band

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Academics • Band 123

“Band is a very competitive

magnet, that’s one thing I don’t

like about it—but I guess it makes

me a better musician.”

Sara Aquadro (12)

eigh Perdue (12) braced herself for an

emotional performance. She would be

playing a piece devoted to a recently

deceased teacher, and containing her feelings

was a difcult process.

“I just built up a wall so I would be able to numb

my feelings and not get upset while playing the

pieces,” Perdue said.

A night usually based on music and holidays took

a serious turn during the emotional tribute to Mr. Clint

Vaught, a teacher to whom Perdue and many other

students had been close with. The band holiday

concert on Dec. 6 featured renditions of “La Vita,”

“Elegy,” and “Celebrations” that were dedicated

to the life of Mr. Vaught. He had taught Oral

Communications and Debate and was a longtime

teacher at the Youth Performing Arts School.

Anticipating sorrow, many members of the

production like Perdue prepared themselves

emotionally for the performance. Band director Mr.

Curtis Essig listened to the students play the music at

least seven times in a row in hopes that he wouldn’t

be emotional during the actual performance.

“When I rst found out about the tribute I thought

it was a horrible idea. I didn’t think I’d be able to get

through it but when I nally got on stage I was so

happy to be able to dedicate my performance to

him,” Perdue said.

The performance moved Mr. Vaught’s friends and

students, and shared feelings of loss and his memory

with those who were not close to him.

“I’d never really gotten to know him, but I was

inspired by how my friends talked about him, and

it made me feel passionate about what I was

playing, and it made me appreciate it,” Karen

Moya (10) said.

In the end, there weren’t many dry eyes left in

the audience.

“The music described him as if he was the song.

He deserved the tribute, being such an inspirational

person and all the things he did for kids,” Noelle

Greenwell (9) said.

For percussion ensemble students, the

year involved more than just standard

high school pieces; percussionists played

a piece commissioned specically for

the band by Dr. David Maslanka, a

professional composer. “It makes me

feel really honored,” Garrett Oberst (12)

said. “He normally writes for college

ensembles and he said this will denitely

be a college level piece. It makes me feel

proud that our name will always be on

that piece of music.” Photo by Christa Iwu

In addition to studying for nal

exams, band students had to

be prepared for convos—short

for convocations—which

tested their playing ability. For

her December convo, utist

Loren Been (11) decided

to do something unusual: having her father be her

accompanist. The decision had a positive impact

on Been’s performance. “Usually we have a piano

teacher play along with us, but with having my

dad there it made me feel more comfortable when

I actually played my piece for a grade,” she said.

Photo by Seth Fischer 

1.A PLEASINGPERFORMANCE• Playingtheclarinet,ChristopherZhou(9)performsa featuredsoloforthe Mr.ClintVaughttribute. Eventhough

Zhoudidnot havetieswith Vaught,hewantedto puton aperformancethatwouldhave madeVaughtproud. “Performingisabout pleasingtheaudience

andthat’swhatItrytodo,”Zhousaid. 2.SYMPHONICSOLOIST•Feelingboth honoredandanxioustohave gottenasolo, AmanBabbarwal(12)playstheclarinet.“I feltlikeI wasundera littlebitof pressureto makeitperfectbut Ijust leteverythinggo andplaythroughmy emotions,”Babbarwalsaid.

3.FIRSTCHAIR FRESHMAN•FlutistBiweiChen(9) playsduringthe Mr.ClintVaughttribute.She wassurprisedwhenshe wasselectedas rstchair

utist,andshewaslaterchosentoplaya solointhetribute.“Havingasolohasmadememorecondentinmyplayingandtaughtmetoexpressmy

feelingsthroughmyloveof music,”Chensaid. 4.BOLDBASSOONIST•Focusingon themusic,Collin Boldin(9)practicesthebassoonin preparation

fortheconcert. “Istartedplayingthe bassoonformymiddleschoolband. Theteacherneededa bassoonistandIthought itwas acool instrumentthat

nota lotof peopleplayed.I’velovedit everysince,”Boldinsaid. 5.A FANTASTICFEATURE•ChristopherCusick(12)playsthe tromboneduringthe

tributetoMr.Clint Vaught.“My piecewasn’ta partofthe Mr.Vaughttributebut Istillwanted toplaymy personalbest.Forme, that’stryingto notthink

abouthowmanypeopleare watchingmeand justmakingmusic,”Cusick said.6.MUSICMEMORABILIA•Playingthe saxophone,ChianeBoom (9)

contributesto themusic atthe bandholidayconcert.Shelookedto Mr.Vaughtasmotivationwhen playingduringtheconcert. ”Iwas tryingtoremember

himthroughmymusic andhis loveforthe artsandused thatto honorhimthroughthe piece,”Boomsaid. PhotosbyMirandaThompson

Performance

Words by Elizabeth Penava & Lizzie

Wiseman•Design by Darby Brown

3

4

6

uets2

A variety of opportunities led to a variety of musical experiences.

Symphonic Band•“We have students from all different grades

and magnets in symphonic band so it’s awesome how it brings us all

together to play challenging music that’s still super fun to perform. It’s

a feeling of connectedness through the music that we love to play.”

Allison Fitzmaurice (11)

Wind Ensemble•“This year we’re playing Barnes’s Third Symphony that I

enjoy, it’s one of my favorites. It was written after his baby daughter had just

died. The rst movement is extremely sad and emotional, but later he had a son

so the fourth movement is sort of a joyous and happier movement. It’s interesting

to see the journey he went on in those years.”

Michael Metz (10)

 Jazz Ensemble•“We improvise and do different styles and combine different

sounds...I combine jazz with dancing. I take tap dance. [Jazz] makes me realize

different rhythms, different music notes that have helped me gained more skills

and technique in tap dancing, which also involves technique and improvisation.”

Ibragimartur Chertmanov (10)

Percussion Ensemble•“Hearing the Maslanka piece for the

rst time almost made me cry. A lot of high schools don’t have the

opportunity to do that and to be able to connect with the composer

like we are.”

 Jacqueline Leachman (11)

Chamber Ensemble•“It makes you a better musician because of how

much repertoire you learn in such little time... I think I’ve gotten better at

being in an ensemble. Also just stage fright, I’m not nearly as scared to

perform a solo in front of people as I used to be.”

Rachel Cummings (10)

   t    h  e

with

Dad

5

1

YMPHONIC After a beloved teacher’s

passing, band students

honored Mr. Clint Vaught in

their annual holiday concert.