Spring Band Concert

Hello Friends and Families!

Thank you for attending tonight's Spring Band Concert!  Your regular attendance at performances is the best way to show your student that you care about their experiences in music at BHS, and that you think the music they make matter.  Even if they don't tell you, I know if means so much to them to see friendl faces in the audience.  Thank YOU for making the time to join us tonight.

Our March concert is always the meat and potatoes concert - every high school band director's absolute favorite concert of the year.  It's festival season, friends!  Tonight, we are playing new, exciting, thought provoking, artistic music meant to reach you in your feelings, and maybe make you want to dance a little bit.

From intimate chamber music to a new symphonic piece expertly employing a marching snare solo - from quirky folk song settings to a writhing piece about a friend or loved one you think about after decades of separation - to jazz informed new symphonic work depicting a lively city coming to life in that magical evening twilight, tonight's concert will be dynamic, accessible, refreshing, and hopefully meaningful and inspiring to each of you.  If you hear something you like, don't forget to say something about it in our concert props form, which is linked throughout the electronic program.  It's easy, free, and will only take you a few minutes to complete at the end of tonight's concert.

I would like to extend a big thank you to our parent booster association, who have continued to fund new music, repairs, transportation costs, and a host of small band hall improvement projects this year.  Everything that happens during the school day benefits directly from these essential parent contributions.  Thank you!

During tonight's performances, please silence and store your cell phones, and at the end of tonight's show, please fill out that props form, and students, please take two trips back to the band room to make quick work of returning our classroom to it's best tidy self for the substitute tomorrow.

That's enough of this opening monologue - let's get the music started!

Chris Thomas

Chamber Music

We have a long history of chamber music at BHS.  In fact, since 2022, BHS chamber musicians have earned 24 medals and 10 gold medals at our WMEA/WIAA State Chamber Music Contest, which includes all 400+ WIAA high schools.  Both medal counts are tops in the state.  ("We're #1!")  It's not all about winning, but it is about being interested, informed, planning ahead, and working hard.

At the regional level (since 2018) BHS Band Members have received an incredible 247 superior ratings, the highest rating possibe.  Students continued that this year.  Wil will find out which alternates get invited to state when the first schedule comes out in early April.  You can read more about this year's regional OMEA Solo & Ensemble competition here.  If you, or your student, are heading to State in April, you can view  lot of helpful information here.