Glenn Middle School Bands Perform to Full House

Proud parents, families and friends gathered in a crowded Central High School Sosa Hall Tuesday night to hear the Symphonic and Concert Bands of Glenn Middle School perform their Holiday Concert.

Glenn’s Concert Band, a mixture of 7th and 8th graders, began the hour-long program, playing six holiday favorites, including “March of the Irish Guard”, “Suite of the Carols”, a three carol mix, “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” and “Triumphant Festival.”

“These kids have worked really hard for me so far this year, and I look forward to continuing to work with them,” said Assistant Band Director Kristin Ellis.

Ellis selected the music for the Holiday Concert, the first of the concert season, and said she was very proud of her students, most of which are second-year players.

“I look at the instrumentation and what they can do,” said Ellis of the song-selection process. “I select the songs based on that.” Among the songs in the three-carol suite were “Deck the Halls”, “Coventry Carol” and “Silent Night.”

“Coventry Carol” was a bit unique in that the music stems from a bit of a haunted story, Ellis explained to the audience. The music is based upon a tale from the 1800s in England, where a king executed all male children after a certain age. The song is actually a mother singing to her son, Ellis says.

Dark as the undertones may have been, the audience appeared to have enjoyed the piece and the concert as a whole. “It was very nice, very heartwarming,” said Kyrstan McNeal, who had shown up to see her sister play. “I didn’t play an instrument in school, but I think it’s important to show up and show them that their efforts mean something.”

McNeal says she hopes her daughter one day plays an instrument in the school band, but she doesn’t want to force it on her.

Of the music played, a clear favorite emerged. “[I really liked] the Grandma one,” said petite flute player Maegan Harris. Harris’ mother agreed. “I’m very proud,” she said.

The Symphonic Band played after the Concert musicians had cleared, performing "Jingle Bells Forever", "Russian Carol Variations" and another popular favorite, "The Chipmunk Song", directed by Adam Chappell. Symphonic is comprised of mostly 8th graders who play more difficult music than the Concert Band.

In an effort to motivate more students to practice their instruments, Joey Ashbrooke, Director of the Central High School Band, spoke about the All-Region tryouts some high school band players recently attended.

Ashbrooke said that the key to progress is practice, and concluded with a statement that caused reactions of surprise in some audience members: “There is more money for musicians than athletes in the state of Texas,” Ashbrooke said, noting that musicians that make it to All-State band will receive a full four-year scholarship to a Texas university.