by Rachel Hunter
The Gouverneur Central School District presented the Middle School December Concert featuring the talents of local students in the Sixth Grade Band, Seventh and Eighth Grade Band, Seventh and Eighth Grade Orchestra, and GMS Wildcat Chorus on Thursday, December 14 at the Gouverneur High School Auditorium.
The crowd of supporters was warmly welcomed by Gouverneur Middle School Principal Robert Kotz, who commended the GMS students and teachers for their hard work and dedication in preparation for the concert.
The Sixth Grade Concert Band, conducted by Mr. Richard Patton, performed selections from the “Essential Elements for Band” which included “Hot Cross Buns,” “March Steps,” and “Jingle Bells.” The final selection was “Conquest” by Brian Balmages. The student-musicians in the concert band included the following: Flutes (Isabella Knowlton and Colton Middleton), Oboes (Brooklyn Anderson and Aryana Tarkowski), Clarinets (Molly Babcock, Karsyn Cudhea, Chloe Griffith, Miracle Holiday, Hendrix McSweeney), Saxophones (Melody Doyle, Karissa Hamilton, Hope-Lee Holiday, Warren Johnson, Gabriella Rayburn, Isabella Rayburn), French Horns (Peyton Dusharm and Kailey Lewis), Trumpets (Micah Bright, Braelyn Parsons, and Lucas Rizza), Trombones (Roy Bender, Marley Gendron, Baileigh Law), Baritones (Levi Klock, Adelynn Miller), Tubas (Silas Cark and Owen Moss) and Percussion (Julia Cole, Blake Dedrick, and Walton Douglas). Mr. Patton, GMS Band Director, extended appreciation to all those in attendance for joining the celebration of the winter holiday season, and the achievements of the young musicians. “These students are performing in their first concert ever at the Gouverneur Central School District tonight.” Thunderous applause sounded for the students. “They have been working very hard since the spring when they got their instruments for the first time to prepare for this evening…I want to thank you for coming and supporting all the musicians tonight. I just finished up my seventh day in the District. I would tell you that these students are the most inviting students I have ever worked with in my lifetime. They have been so welcoming, and so eager to learn that I cannot wait to see where we can go as we progress through the school year.”
The Seventh and Eighth Grade Concert Band, conducted by Mr. Richard Patton, performed “Rock This Band” by Robert Sheldon, “Jingle Bell Tones” as arranged by Brian Balmages, and “Little Drummer Dudes” by Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone as arranged by Brian Beck. The student-musicians in the concert band included the following: Flute (Anna Holcomb, Damynn Mashaw, Joicelyn McSweeney, Gracie White, Chloe Whitton, and Miley Young) Clarinet (Dustin Cardinell, Dreyden Daniels, Sophia Marx, Ayden Miller, Michael Moore, Damian O’Riley, and Emma Riutta), Alto Saxophone (Gage Liscum, Olivia McDougall, Damien Sixberry, Curtis Terpstra, Izzabella Vann) Baritone Saxophone (Colton Hayden), French Horn (Xavier Ames, Kameran Bice, Hannah White), Trumpet (Laila Bearden, Jace Castro, Adrian Cimineri, Courtney Hays, Cayden Moore, Joshua Newcombe, Lily Scott), Trombone (Keith Bice, Matthew Buprey, Johnathan Hogle, Yasmine Langille, Casmeir Reaves, Makenna Rowe, Weston Simmons, Bentley Vanderbogart), Tuba (Daimon Tuttle), Percussion (Lane Ayen, Avian Burt, Alessandria Colon, Curtis Crandall, Cruz Pawananon, Nicholas Poole, Trent Reynolds, Treyton Smith, and Mary Wallace). Conductor Richard Patton said the following: “Many of these students started playing in Sixth Grade, but we also have a handful of students that just started playing in the last six months, and they are joining us on stage tonight.” Thunderous applause sounded for the student-musicians. “These students have been an absolute joy to work with. As with the Sixth Grade Concert Band, they are the most inviting, welcoming group of students that I have worked with, and they are so eager to learn that some days I forget I am actually doing a job…”
The Seventh and Eighth Grade Orchestra, conducted by Mr. Paul Buell, performed a “Classic Christmas Medley” as arranged by S. Day including “Jingle Bells” and “Jolly Old St. Nicholas” (which included a pizzicato section). The concert concluded with a performance and reprise of “Silent Night” as arranged by S. Day and P. Buell. The audience was invited to sing along as the Seventh and Eighth Grade Orchestra played. The selections were introduced by the students. The student-musicians in the orchestra included the following: Violin (Isabella Barbarito, Taylor Edney, Sophi Hayden, Adrianna Mashaw, Alexa Merkley, Lola Moller, Madison Nichols, Emma Riutta, Jax Spicer, and Aubree Taylor), Viola (Olivia DeGroff, MayLea Jenkins), Cello (Kara Countryman, Tyler Markwick, Chloe Whitton), Bass (Keegan Durham-Travis). The orchestra was accompanied by Mrs. Kathleen Buell and GHS students Skyler Thomas and Sophia Hewitt. Conductor Buell told the audience he was proud of the students in the orchestra, and their developing musicianship. Great applause sounded in recognition of the student-musicians’ hard work, dedication.
The Gouverneur Middle School Wildcat Chorus, featuring students in Grades 5-8, was conducted by Sarah E. Stedman and accompanied by Gail Haile. The Chorus performed “The Shepherd’s Spiritual,” a traditional spiritual arranged by Donald Moore, as well as “Snow on Snow” with words and music by Andy Beck, and concluded with “The Holiday Season,” words and music by Kay Thompson as arranged by Mark Hayes. The GMS Wildcat Chorus included the following student-vocalists: Brooklyn Anderson, Tristan Arquitt, Kameran Bice, Kaelyn Bishop, Ricki Bowhall, Aubrey Bristol, Arianna Brown, Lettie Brown, Maxwell Brown, Avian Burt, Holly Carr, Aspen Chase, Julia Cole, Dreyden Daniels, Kyla Daniels, Presley Daniels, Logan Doster, Lucas Doster, Lillian Douglas, Taylor Edney, Ruby Griffith, Tyler Hall, Ceyonna Harmer, Delaney Hoffman, Laila Hoffman, Hope-Lee Holiday, Miracle Holiday, Gracie Huckle, Jacob Hughes, Cally Jenkins, Laraya Klock, Isabella Knowlton, Rayeann LaFlamme, Avalynn Langille, Yasmine Langille, Adrianna Mashaw, Damynn Mashaw, Alexa Merkley, Lola Moller, Joshua Newcombe, Damian O’Riley, Brayden Olsen, Brycen Parshley, Jenna Richards, Evelyn Riutta, Jeiza Rodriguez, Faith Rose, Ariyonna Savage, Lily Scott, Gavin Shippee, Madison Sibley, Lorelei Slate, Lindonlee Smith, Maddix Sovie, Abigail Straughan, Kaydence Taylor, Nora Tharaldsen, Peyton Travis, Carole Tulley, Daimon Tuttle, Izzabella Vann, Alana Velez, Celia Weekes, Kelsey Whitmore, and Isabella Zeller. Conductor Stedman said the following: “Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all. We are very glad to be here. Your children never cease to amaze me. I have the best job in the world. I love these kids. Thank you for sharing them with me every year.” Great applause sounded in recognition of the student-vocalists’ hard work, dedication.
The Gouverneur Central School District Middle School December Concert concluded with thunderous applause for all the students featured in the various ensemble. Gratitude was extended to the Gouverneur Central School District Board of Education, GCS Superintendent of Schools Jackie Kelly, GHS Principal Cory Wood, GMS Principal Robert Kotz, Assistant Principal Michael Hammond, and all the faculty, secretarial and custodial staff, and anyone who contributed any type of service to the concert’s success.
Gouverneur Middle School students were recognized for being selected to play with the Jr. High All-County Band. This includes the following: Damynn Mashaw, Olivia McDougall, Colton Hayden, Hannah White, Daimon Tuttle, and Avian Burt. The students will be playing with students from all over St. Lawrence County in January at a concert at the Crane School of Music in Potsdam. Also recognized were the students performing in the SLCMEA All-County Chorus in February: Avalynn Langille, Adrianna Mashaw, Damynn Mashaw, Alexa Merkley, Lola Moller. Alternates are Laraya Klock and Yasmine Langille.
For more information on the Gouverneur Central School District, visit gcsk12.org.