Niwot High's farewell concerts to graduating seniors

Whether you're a senior about to graduate or a close friend of a senior, the spring semester is always a bittersweet time of year. Niwot High School's spring concerts are an example of one of the "lasts" in which seniors participate during their final days of high school, and one such bittersweet experience. The Niwot High School bands, orchestras, and mariachi held their final concerts this past week on May 7 and 8 at the NHS auditorium.

Both jazz bands, the percussion ensemble, and both symphonic bands held their spring "Crossroads'' concert on Tuesday May 7. While every year it is hard to bid farewell to seniors, the band department is saying goodbye to 25 exceptional musicians and people (the largest number Wade Hendricks, Director of Bands, has seen since coming to Niwot in 2013). "[This] concert is special," Hendricks said, "because we get a chance to send off our seniors."

Hendricks continued by saying that the theme of "crossroads" was appropriate as the graduating seniors are really at the first big crossroads in their lives and "choosing what their next journey will be." Hendricks also tries to incorporate ways to feature seniors and have them provide input into the program selections at this final concert of the school year.

Selections this year included "Evil Ways" by Santana, "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynryd, "Tank!" by Yoko Kanno, "Orange Colored Sky" by Milton DeLugg and Willie Stein, "The Credits Roll" from Super Mario 3D World, "Balloonology" a percussion feature by Chris Crockarell, "Demon Slayer: Mugen Train" from the popular anime series, the Wednesday main title theme by Danny Elfman, "Danzon" from Fancy Free by Leonard Bernstein, "Clarinet Candy" by Leroy Anderson, "Music for a Darkened Theater" (a medley of Danny Elfman's greatest hits).

Keynes Chen, Director of Orchestras and Mariachi Esmeralda, featured a fun-filled program as well during the "Night of Nostalgia" concert on May 8. "The theme [since it was named 'Night of Nostalgia'] always gets programmed for well-known, recognizable classics," said Chen. Features included music from The Godfather, a medley from Super Mario Bros, "The Muppets Show Theme," Chronicles of Narnia music, "Nothing Else Matters" by Metallica as well as "Master of Puppets," "La Llorona" (a Mexican Folk song), "Por Mujeres Como Tu" by Pepe Aguilar, in addition to classical orchestra arrangements.

Student suggestions are taken via a repertoire suggestion box, and with the idea of highlighting recognizable tunes that not only get students excited to perform, but engage with the audience. "It's a good way to invoke reflection," said Chen, "and to think fondly on memories made in peoples' lives." Whether recognizable or not, the pieces performed were engaging and entertaining for students and audience alike.

Ensembles from the evening included Mariachi Esmeralda, Sinfonia Orchestra, Conservatory Orchestra, Pro Arté Chamber Ensemble, the Symphony Orchestra, the NHS Combined Orchestra, and a finale from the NHS Combined Orchestra and Mariachi Esmeralda.

With 19 seniors graduating this year, Chen said that everyone played their instruments with much emotion. "[Students] are very strong, very passionate, and very close with each other," Chen said. "The comradery amongst this senior class is truly impressive, not just in the [music] program but in their personal lives and how they support each other."

There were especially strong emotions in the Mariachi ensemble, whose members were a part of the inaugural conception of the group, and are now graduating as the first original class that helped put the Mariachi ensemble together to make it what it is today.

Both Hendricks and Chen noted that this senior class started their high school career during Covid. Therefore their introduction to high school and performing arts was difficult, but to have so many of them (the largest senior numbers in performing arts to date) stick through it to the very end was remarkable and heartwarming.

The final choir concert at NHS was on May 14, and will be featured in next week's edition of The Left Hand Valley Courier.