by Rachel Hunter
The Gouverneur Central School District hosted the Gouverneur Middle School Concert on May 29 at the Gouverneur Central High School Auditorium.
The Sixth Grade Concert Band, directed by Richard Patton was conducted by GHS Music Teacher Olivia Montagno during the concert. The band performed “Embolden” by Sean O’Loughlin, “Creatures in the Attic” by Brian Balmages, and “Arrival at Normandy” by Sean O’Loughlin. The student-musicians in the band include the following: Flute (Ceyonna Harmer, Isabeau Holt, Carole Tulley, Evangeline Veal), Clarinet (Aspen Chase, Brookelyn Daniell, Kyla Daniels, Charleana Hughto, Remington Patchen, Maverick Peyatt), Saxophone (Preston McConnell, Darian Rathbun, Evelyn Riutta, Carlos Sanchez, Allen Smith), French Horn (Easton Smith), Trumpet (Tyler Hall, Megan Hays, Cally Jenkins, Hunter Smith), Trombone (Blake Cushman, Joseph Hernandez, Noah Weatherup). Euphonium (Robert Millemon, Cash Newvine), Tuba (Tucker Clark), Percussion (Liam Devito, Laila Hoffman, Jude Nichols, Annabell Pray, Kiana Sanchez), and Mallets (Jayda Hays).
The Seventh and Eighth Grade Concert Band, directed by Richard Patton was conducted by GHS Music Teacher Olivia Montagno during the concert. The band performed “Lexington March” by John Edmonson, “Air for Band” by Frank Erickson, and “Softly Speaks the Night” by Carol Brittin Chambers. The student-musicians in the band include the following: Flute (Isabella Knowlton, Gracie White), Oboe (Aryana Tarkowski), Clarinet (Brooklyn Anderson, Karsyn Cudhea, Chloe Griffith, Miracle Holiday, Hollie Trombly), Bass Clarinet (Ayden Miller), Alto Saxophone (Elizabeth Bason, Hayden Hazleton, Mason Hilton, Hope-Lee Holiday, Gabriella Rayburn, Izzabella Vann), Tenor Saxophone (Isabella Rayburn, Curtis Terpstra), French Horn (Xavier Ames, Kameran Bice, Peyton Dusharm, Kailey Lewis), Trumpet (Luke Bartholomew, Laila Bearden, Micah Bright, Jace Castro, Gordon Gardner, Courtney Hays, Braelynn Parsons), Trombone (Roy Bender, Keith Bice, Isaiah Dowling, Marley Gendron, Casmeir Reaves), Euphonium (Sophie Gemmill), Tuba (Silas Clark, Owen Moss), Percussion (Lane Ayen, Julia Cole, Alessandria Colon, Curtis Crandall, Walton Douglas, Karissa Hamilton, Tyler Markwick, Brayden Olson, Treyton Smith, Mary Wallace), and Mallets (Jayda Hays).
The Seventh and Eighth Grade Orchestra, conducted by Gouverneur CSD Music Teacher Janeen Streeter, performed: “Ode to Joy” by Ludwig von Beethoven as arranged by Janeen Streeter, “Fiddler’s Hoedown” by Steve Burch (with solos by Emma Riutta and Evelynn Vann), “Sailor’s Song” by Mark Williams, “Bach Country Fiddles” by J.S. Bach, as arranged by Richard Meyer, and the “1812 Overture” by Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky, as arranged by Michael Story. The student-musicians included: Violin (Isabella Barbarito, LeeAnn Foote, Delaney Hoffman, Ryan MacCue, Alexa Merkley, Lola Moller, Madelyn Reed, Emma Riutta, Serenity Smith, Parker Steele, Aubree Taylor, Evelynn Vann), Viola (Olivia DeGroff, Ryan Pistocco), Cello (Hendrix McSweeney), Bass (Konnor Dubberly, Keegan Durham-Travis, and Tyler Markwick).
The concert closed with powerful vocals from the Gouverneur Middle School Wildcat Chorus, featuring students from Grades 5-8. The Chorus was conducted by GMS Choral Teacher Sarah Stedman and accompanied by Gail Haile. The chorus performed opened with a traditional spiritual, “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel” as arranged by Roger Emerson. Accompanied by GHS Avian Burt on banjo, the chorus thrilled the crowd with a performance of “The Rainbow Connection” by P. Williams and K.L. Ascher, arranged by Audrey Snyder. Next the audience was moved by a New Zealand sea shanty, “The Wellerman” as arranged by Carol Troutman Wiggins. The concert closed with “The River of Dreams” by Billy Joel, as arranged by Roger Emerson. The Descant was performed by Aria Austin, Arianna Brown, Adrian Cimineri, Ruby Griffith, and Izzabella Vann. GHS Senior Gavin Davis accompanied on the conga drums. The student-vocalists in the Wildcat Chorus include the following: Isis Alguire, Xavier Ames, Brooklyn Anderson, Aria Ausstin, Molly Babcock, Elizabeth Bason, Kisara Becker, Kameran Bice, Keelee Bice, Raelee Bigwarfe, Isabelle Blaine, Vivian Bogardus, Arianna Brown, Rowan Burt, Alexander Cardinell, Holly Carr, Paisley Casey, Aspen Chase, Adrian Cimineri, Julia Cole, Karsyn Cudhea, Dreyden Daniels, Kyla Daniels, Jocelyn Dewolf, River Ervin, Sophie Gemmill, Ruby Griffith, Tyler Hall, Nikolaus Hendrick, Lucille Hoffman, Hope-Lee Holiday, Miracle Holiday, Gracie Huckle, Charleana Hughto, Kendra Jenkins, Chloe June, Annesa Koerick, Frances LaPierre, Laila Lewis, Aubrey MacMartin, Jase Mashaw, Alexa Merkley, Bria Merkley, Robert Millemon, Lola Moller, Dakota Morrison, Brayden Olson, Braelynn Parsons, Lacey Phillips, Rylan Pistocco, Madelyn Reed, Jeiza Rodriguez, Celia Roggie, Ariyonna Savage, Cole Sibley, Madison Sibley, Allen Smith, Easton Smith, Nathan Sochia, Nora Tharaldsen, Carole Tulley, Tucker Tuttle, Emma Vann, Izzabella Vann, Alana Velez, Mary Wallace, Leah Weams, Kelsey Whitmore, London Wood, Dawson Woodard, and Pyper Worden.
Thunderous applause sounded for the student-musicians throughout the performance.
The Gouverneur Middle School students also received various recognitions. The following eighth grade graduates were recognized: From the Seventh and Eighth Grade Concert Band: Gracie White, Ayden Miller, Izzabella Vann, Curtis Terpstra, Xavier Ames, Kameran Bice, Laila Bearden, Jace Castro, Courtney Hays, Keith Bice, Casmeir Reaves, Sophie Gemmill, Lane Ayen, Alessandria Colon, Curtis Crandall, Tyler Markwick, Treyton Smith, and Mary Wallace.
From the Seventh and Eighth Grade Orchestra: Isabella Barbarito, Alexa Merkley, Lola Moller, Emma Riutta, Serenity Smith, Aubree Taylor, Olivia DeGroff, Keegan Durham-Travis, Tyler Markwick.
From the GMS Wildcat Chorus: Xavier Ames, Aria Austin, Kisara Becker, Kameran Bice, Arianna Brown, Holly Carr, Adrian Cimineri, Dreyden Daniels, Jocelyn Dewolf, Sophie Gemmill, Alexa Merkley, Lola Moller, Jeiza Rodriguez, Madison Sibley, Nora Tharaldsen, Izzabella Vann, and Mary Wallace.
The following students participated in All-County: Ceyonna Harmer, Aspen Chase, Evelyn Riutta, Easton Smith, Joseph Hernandez, Silas Clark, Serenity Smith, Emma Riutta, Isis Alguire, Kameran Bice, Alexander Cardinell, Adrian Cimineri, Ruby Griffith, Frances LaPierre, and Ariyonna Savage.
NYSSMA Solo Fest participants include: Ceyonna Harmer, Carole Tulley, Aspen Chase, Charleana Hughto, Evelyn Riutta, Easton Smith, Joseph Hernandez, Robert Millemon, Tucker Clark, Jayda Hays, Gracie White, Brooklyn Anderson, Karsyn Cudhea, Chloe Griffith, Hollie Trombly, Izzabella Vann, Curtis Terpstra, Peyton Dusharm, Laila Bearden, Micah Bright, Courtney Hays, Marley Gendron, Sophie Gemmill, Silas Clark, Isabella Barbarito, Delaney Hoffman, Ryan MacCue, Alexa Merkey, Lola Moller, Madelyn Reed, Emma Riutta, Serenity Smith, Parker Steele, Evelynn Vann, Olivia DeGroff, Rylan Pistocco, Hendrix McSweeney, Tyler Markwick, Kameran Bice, Ruby Griffith, and Ariyonna Savage.
Congratulations were extended to the students on their achievements as the announcements were made.
A special word of appreciation was extended to all those who contributed to the concert’s success. Gratitude was extended to all for their continued support of the Music Department at the Gouverneur Central School District. For more information about the Gouverneur CSD, visit www.gcsk12.org.