Cary-Grove Band Rocks the House

The Cary-Grove High School band held its’ annual “Pops Concert” on Sunday, which included a wide variety of music and performances.

Students expressed themselves through instruments, singing, stomping and marching.

 The concert began with Davilla’s classic newspaper novelty “Headlines,” in which students perform with voice, newspaper prop, hands and feet.

 Next was the “Mambo,” performed by the Jazz Ensemble, which featured the saxophones, trumpets, trombones and the rhythm sections'.

Patrick Whalen, jazz combo director, said the students put in long hours after school for the jazz sections of the band because they are extra-circular activities.

The last performance was the Christmas concert, which was only a couple of months ago and Marty Magnini, band director, said we began preparing for this show right after the concert in December.

With about two months, the students put on a whole concert, which included many styles of music. Magnini said we play music for the students and if they like it, the band chooses to perform it.

He said it's easier for students to learn, when it's music they like to listen, for example the "The Best of Green Day" selection was one of the highlight performances for the students.

Roger Rupert, who's a professional trumpet player and played the trumpet solo in the popular piece, "La Virgen de la Marcarena." Rupert is a freelance musician and an adjunct faculty of McHenry County College.

For the finale, Rupert joined the students, for band the classic Beatles hit, "Love."

The final concert of the school year will be May 5 at 7 p.m. but the band and jazz sections will have performances before the spring hits.

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