On Thursday, December 12th, Benet Academy’s Band and Orchestra performed festive holiday music for the Christmas Instrumental Concert. This concert featured five subsets of Benet Academy’s instrumental music groups: the Percussion Ensemble, the Wind Ensemble, the Symphony Strings, the Chamber Strings, and the Benet Philharmonic. St. Daniel’s Auditorium was filled with joy and cheer due to the bright and cheerful tunes from Benet Academy’s talented musicians.
The Symphony Strings started off the concert, with one group performing Deus Strong Trio by Paul Barker, another group performing Carol of the Birds (arranged by Mikel Rogers), and the last group performing Skater’s Waltz by Émile Waldteufe (arranged by Richard Meyer). Each song created beautiful harmonies in their own way. Deus Strong Trio formed soothing music through gentle yet strong tones, Carol of the Birds transformed light, staccato notes into a unique harmony, and Skaters Waltz had sophisticated notes to produce a flowing graceful piece. The Symphony Strings enchanted the audience with their delightful music, providing a great start to the concert.
Percussion Ensemble performed next with Russian Sailor’s Dance by Reinhold Gliere (arranged by Percy Hall) and LD Smooth by Wesley Denkins. Russian Sailor’s Dance was a powerful and spiraling piece, empowered with dynamic notes from the xylophone. The fast tempo of LD Smooth was rhythmic and fascinating, striking interest in the audience. Preceding the Percussion Ensemble were Kaitlyn Skopek and Maddie Maldonado’s performance of a traditional flute duet called The First Noel. Capturing the soothing nature of the classic composition, the flautists had an excellent performance.
Lastly, the Wind Ensemble entered the stage, ready to perform In the Bleak Midwinter by Gustav Holstein (arranged by Robert W. Smith), Salvation is Created by Tschenokoff (arranged by Bruce Houseknecht), and Joy Revisited by Frank Ticheli. Composed of dynamic and gentle parts, In the Bleak Midwinter was perfectly balanced as a powerful yet smooth piece. Playing a beautiful clarinet solo at the beginning of the composition, Ingrid Dombrowski calmed the hearts of the audience with her talent. Horn player Emily Skopek and euphoniumist Ryan Charles harmonized with Ingrid’s playing to create a gorgeous harmony. At the end of the piece, the Wind Ensemble members imitated a gentle breeze as Ingrid flowed through another solo at the end of the song. Salvation is Created started off unsettling, but then progressively grew into a serene piece. Trombonists Joseph Dourdourekas, Taylor Watson, and Stella Grant provided a tranquil harmony in the middle of the piece.
