HCHS Band rouses audience

Fainting student steals the show
By TERESA SETTLE NORRIS
Tennessee Express News Writer
* Last week the Houston County High School band, under the direction of conductor Matt Whitt, performed their second annual March-March concert. That is, March, for the month, and March, for the type of song.
* The concert was flawless, but a student’s fainting spell at the end of the fourth song temporarily halted the rhythm a bit.
* One second the song was ending, the next, Director Whitt was flying off the conductor’s box just in time to catch a fainting clarinet player.
* Apparently, HCHS student Athena Rye had given blood at the high school earlier in the week, and she hadn’t quite recovered.
* After a few tense, but professional minutes with a small band of officials, including HCHS Principal Linda Jolly, surrounding her, the student was helped off the stage.
* As the old saying goes, “The show must go on,” so with a raise of his baton, Director Whitt ushered in the next song.
* The concert included five marches composed by Karl King and one by John Phillip Sousa. For the finale, the band played “Bravura,” by Charles Edward Duble.
* Three band members had speaking parts during the concert, giving a brief biography of the composers.
* Amy Mitchum explained a little about Sousa, who was aptly nicknamed the “March King.”
* Ashley Lill said that Karl Lawrence King composed more than 300 works, and did his best when composing under pressure.
* Mitchell Manners explained that in “Bravura,” Duble composed exceptional difficult low brass parts.
* Director Whitt said the band spent an entire nine-weeks working on the marches.
* Upcoming events for the Marching Irish high school band include the following:
* Irish Day Parade, Saturday, March 21
* Krispy Kreme Fundraiser, through March 24
* Spring Concert, Monday, April 27
+* Pops Concert, Thursday, May 14
* In school concerts, Friday, May 15
* HCHS Graduation Ceremony, Friday, May 29
Members of the 2009 band include the following students:
* FLUTE: Athena Rye and Courtney Powell
* OBOE: Amy Mitchum
* CLARINET: Kathleen Wallace, Rebecca Unkel, Jeremiah Jayne, Taylor Webb, Mariah Davis, Chayse Neyman, and Sean Settle
* BASS CLARINET: Amber Rye
* SAXOPHONE: Coleton Jayne
* HORN: Andy Hawks, Michael Bass, and Lake Baggett
* TRUMPET: Michael Ivie, Ashley Lill, Katie Gauthier, and Sean Fessler
* TROMBONE: Derek Jones
* EUPHONIUM: Ronnie Wright, Lorin Hinson, and Larry Roberson
* TUBA: Jay Lambert and Mitchell Manners
* PERCUSSION: Katie Gray, Dylan Henderson, William Brotherton, and Wesley Wimberly