“The Most Memorable Concert of the Year”

The Spring Concert of the year, featuring MS band, HS band, and jazz band, was successfully held on April 19, 2019, at our theater. The concert consisted of two major parts: the high-school jazz band performance conducted by Mr. Bott and performances by the middle and high-school band led by Dr. Taylor.

The concert started with a brief introduction by Mr. Bunnell, our middle-school principal, and moved onto jazz band’s performance of the piece “All of Me” by Seymour Simons, Gerald Marks, and Arr. Dick Lieb. After the intermission, the HS band performed three more pieces and the spring band concert ended in countless rounds of applause.

Pieces played by the Jazz Band included: “All of Me,” “Adios Muchachos,” and “The Chicken.” The concert was remarked as a success by the only bass player, as well as one of the piano players in the band, Richard A. Richard claimed that this concert was much more successful than the last one, including “numerous improvements such as transitions, solos, improvisations, etc.” However, there are still areas that can be improved. Richard humbly suggested that their “dynamic could be better because the solos were not really audible at some places.” Despite this, overall, performers noted that the concert was a huge success.

According to junior Jimin L., a flute player in HS band, the band performed three pieces of different tunes and moods, including: “Amparito Roca,” “On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss,” and “The Greatest Showman.” Dr. Taylor commented proudly that “the concert went quite well,” and “the students rose to the occasion and performed their best.” One challenge that the band faced this year though, was the timing of the concert. They were positioned right after the intermission, which, according to Dr. Taylor, “made it challenging to prepare adequately.” However, the students were able to successfully overcome the challenge by conducting sufficient practices beforehand, working hard at school, and practicing outside of school individually.

“‘The Greatest Showman’ was considerably the highlight of the concert,” says Jimin. “It was a piece for Ms. Lin.” Dr. Taylor also warmheartedly prepared a slideshow with pictures of Ms. Lin and her students that brought the performance to greater success.

When asked about his first year at AISG, Dr. Taylor commented that it has been “very enjoyable.” He commends AISG’s musicians, stating that “it has been great to work with such strong colleagues and to teach students who care about music.” At the same time, it has undeniably been an honor for the AISG community to welcome such a professional and enthusiastic music professor like Dr. Taylor. Additionally, it’s also been our honor to have a skillful, proficient and rigorous teacher like Ms. Lin for years before she departs on her greater journeys.

The concert ended in success, in both teachers’ and students’ perspectives — many players referring to it as the most remarkable and memorable concert of the year. 

Stay tuned for Dylan’s upcoming article about Ms. Lin’s many years at AISG!