Bill Kirby
Staff Writer
The Chamber Singers and Wind Ensemble will be performing on Oct. 4 in Parkland’s Harold & Jean Miner Theatre. The groups will be performing a combination of music with nautical themes and popular music from the 1940s through the 1990s.
Miranda Rowland, director of the Chamber Singers and Larry Stoner, director of the Wind Ensemble, shared their ideas for a theme for Sunday’s concert and agreed on Coming Out of the Dark.
The Chamber Singers will focus on taking the audience down memory lane, with pieces from Merle Travis to Gloria Estefan.
Members of the Parkland Wind Ensemble practice in the C-Wing on Sept. 24, 2015. The ensemble is under the direction of Larry Stoner.
“The audience will hear favorites from Elton John, Billy Joel, Dion and the Belmonts, Wilson Philips and The Foundations,” said Rowland. “At the end of this concert people should expect to be singing ‘Let the Sun Shine’ with the ensemble as we exit the stage. Don’t be surprised if you feel your feet tapping, or a tear trickle down your face. If we do our job right, you’ll feel every emotion possible… except anger… I hope you don’t cross that one.”
It’s Stoner’s first semester directing the Wind Ensemble, although he has directed the Parkland Concert Band for five years and also taught in Monticello school for 31 years.
The Wind Ensemble’s portion of the concert will feature a coronet solo by Dr. Arron Romm. Romm will be featured on the tune, “The Banks for the Mighty Pacific.”
“It’s an old fashioned piece written in the late 1800s to early 1900s. It’s kind of schmaltzy and will be a real delight to play and a delight to listen to as well,” Stoner said.
Other pieces performed by the Wind Ensemble will include “Sea Songs” by Thomas Knox from Danville, IL as well as, “Across the Sea”, “Shenandoah”, and “Victory at Sea.”
Over the past weekend Professor Rowland took a group of students in The Chamber Singers on a weekend retreat to work on music and build relationships with each other.
The ensemble was able to fine tune their repertoire for their fall and winter concerts. “It’s incredibly beneficial for us as a group and helps us grow together as musicians and as friends,” said Bethany Sims, a member of the Chamber Singers.
“My experience at Parkland will be something I take with me wherever I go. I have made the best of friends here, people who I will be friends with for the rest of my life. I can honestly say that without them, school would be much more difficult,” said Sarah Vavrin, who is also a member of the Chamber Singers. “During my time here I have grown as a student and as a musician. I no longer hesitate to ask questions in class and I grasp music much quicker. I am much more confident in my abilities as a musician.
Coming Out of the Dark will begin at 3 p.m. The show is free.
