Herndon High School Pyramid Concert Delights Audiences

Submitted by Laura Readyoff, The Music Loft.

On Wednesday, Herndon High School hosted the Herndon Pyramid Concert, featuring the Herndon Elementary School Area Band, the Herndon Middle School Symphonic Band and Herndon High School Wind Ensemble.

The Council for the Arts of Herndon (CAH) and The Music Loft were there to receive a donation from Herndon Elementary School Principal Ann Gwynn for the "Play it Forward" instrument donation drive.  

Signe Friedrichs, the executive director and proponent for the arts, accepted the instrument.

Laura Readyoff, who is on the executive board of directors for the council and the co-owner of the Music Loft, spoke about the "Play it Forward" program.  

The Play it Forward program was conceived because the CAH recognized a need for good-quality and hard-to-find instruments for students who could not otherwise afford one.

The program accepts used band and stringed instruments. The CAH will restore them to playing condition and give them to Herndon area schools.

Long-time supporter of the Hendon band program, Arthur Nachman, was at the concert to present the high school with a check for the instructional program. Mr. Nachman has helped provide instruments for students who are otherwise unable to afford them, and has also provided the schools with opportunities to work with professional musicians in a sectional setting.

The Herndon area band consisted of students who were first- and second-year players. Ms. Theresa Tomko coordinated the area band. Their program included the showstopper "Funtango." The band was directed by Patricia Adams, Kelsey Seipp, Marsha Tarr, and Theresa Tomko.  

Next, the Herndon Middle School Symphonic band took the stage under the direction of Sharon Bonneau. The HMS Symphonic band earned a performance slot for the Virginia Music Educators Association music convention. They were one of two middle schools selected in the entire state! This is the highest state honor that a band can receive, and it is a first for HMS.

The band played the very intense piece, "The Gathering of the Ranks at Hebron," which was filled with emotion. They also had the audience smiling and singing along with their closing piece, "Pop Culture."

Ms. Bonneau challenged the students and the audience to see how many songs they recognized. The grand total was eight, including "Scooby Doo," "James Bond Theme," "Bonanza," and more!  

The Herndon Wind Ensemble, directed by Ms. Kathleen Jacoby, closed the program. The band was awarded superior ratings in the Solo and Ensemble Festival, having prepared all-new music only two weeks before the festival. The results were stunning!  

The piece that left the audience in awe was "Lonely Beach (Normandy, 1944)." This peace depicted the battle of Normandy. It was punctuated by trumpets playing on the sides of the auditorium, drums in the back of the auditorium, a synthesizer, and spectacular lighting effects that truly communicated a battle and the stillness that lies after.

The concert concluded with all of the bands combining to play "Stars and Stripes Forever!" What a great evening of music.

Do you have a child in one of these music programs? What do you think of them? Tell us in the comments.

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