Musical Talent Abounds at CAHS’s ‘An Evening of Ensembles’

 

AP Music Theory students showcase their skills as they perform their own arrangement, an upbeat crossover jazz and reggae.

The Charlotte Amalie High School (CAHS) Music Department presented its first concert of the 2018-19 school year, “An Evening of Ensembles,” on Oct. 24 in the auditorium, featuring student musicians performing in a variety of small and highly-skilled instrumental and vocal groups.

Brass Attitude, a 15-member ensemble playing the saxophone, trombone and trumpet, opened the show with “Birdland,” arranged by Music Department Chair Luben Daniel. Following the performance, the high school’s popular all-girl group, Swans on the Lake, serenaded the audience with an a cappella version of the hit song, “I Will Always Love You” written by Dolly Parton and made popular by Whitney Houston.

Saxophone Sextet dazzle the crowd with their whimsical performance of the theme from ‘Family Guy’

The evening continued with selections by clarinet, flute, percussion, trombone and saxophone ensembles. Ripples on the Lake, CAHS’s all-male vocal ensemble, gave a cappella renditions of New Edition’s “Can You Stand the Rain” and Boyz II Men’s “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye” — both audience favorites. The highlight of the show was an energetic dance performance by the Golden Hawkettes to the sounds of the CAHS Marching Hawks drumline.

Swans on the Lake had their voices sweep over the audience as they performed ‘I Will Always Love You’

An upbeat crossover jazz and reggae medley titled “Theocracy” was arranged and performed by AP Music Theory students Ayanna Anthony, J’Niya Challenger, Raphael Christian, Norrence Dowell and Jaren Hodge. The small band was comprised of a guitar, bass guitar, double seconds steel pan, trombone and drums. The advanced music students showcased their musical diversity as they swapped instruments throughout the performance.

Music students in the Class of 2019 presented a tribute to their fellow class members to the popular Soca tune “Full of Vibe.” The Mello-Hawks Steel Band closed out the show with “Sugar Daddy,” the hit song by Adam O., the 2018 St. Croix Festival Party Monarch winner.

The CAHS Music Department will hold its Christmas concert on Tuesday, Dec. 11.