On Tuesday May 12th, the Belmont Hill community gathered in the chapel to watch the Spring Concert, featuring multiple music groups across a multitude of genres. The Orchestra played first, starting off with Tchaikovsky’s 1812 overture, an elegant performance remembering the 1812 War against Napoleon. The music featured both slow, moving sections in addition to fast-paced, exhilarating notes. They also played an adaptation of Treasure by Bruno Mars, a song previously played by the Jazz Band. In Treasure, the orchestra also featured Henry Stewart ’31 on the drums, a vibrant addition to the group. Following the orchestra, the Middle School Jazz Band performed, playing The Pink Panther by Henry Mancini. Interestingly, each member of the group played an individual solo in the song. After, the Upper School Jazz Band played, beginning with Walkin’ Shoes by Gerry Mulligan. The song featured three soloists: Ethan Xie ’26 on Tenor Saxophone, Brady Yoo ’28 on Baritone Saxophone, and Finn Davis ’29 on Drums. The music was West Coast jazz, featuring a different swing than traditional east coast music. The next song performed was Povo by Freddie Hubbard, with soloists Roger Zhang ’29 on vibraphone, James Palumbo ’28 on trumpet, William Skordos ’27 on guitar, and TZ Snail ’26 on piano. Jazz Band concluded with Blues in Hoss Flat by William Basie and Frank Foster, an upbeat swing piece. The song had the following soloists: Ryan Ho ’28, Benjamin Qin ’29, and Brandon Li ’26 on alto saxophone, and Pierce Courtney ’28 on guitar. Following Jazz Band, the B-Flats took the stage, starting with a civil rights song Lead with Love by Melanie Demore. The song contained four soloists: Zachary Park ’28, Pierce Morris ’28, Grant Hanser ’26, and Jackson Bartlett ’26. Next, Jackson Bartlett sang a solo song Stop This Train by John Mayer, a melancholy reflection of his Belmont Hill experience. Finally, the whole group sang This Little Light, a traditional folk song, with Alex Black ’26, Grant Hanser ’26, and Jackson Bartlett ’26 leading the performance. Finally, the last group to play was Middle School Rock Band. The group played two songs, Sultans of Swing by Mark Knopfler, and Free Bird by Collins and Van Zant. These two performances featured Arun Lenhart ’29 and Felix Krockmalnic ’29 singing, with Wes Wild ’30 on guitar with two amazing solos. As the school year comes to an end, The Panel thanks Mr. Patterson and Mr. Fiori for their leadership in the music department, and the seniors, who have been a core part of Belmont Hill music for so long.
