On May 28, the Wiscasset Middle School music ensembles were warming-up for their annual spring concert, when a thunderstorm knocked out power to the school. The concert had to be postponed at the last minute. However, on Thursday, June 4, the spring concert was a go!

The evening began with the WMS Concert Band opening the program with our national anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner.”

The choral ensembles had a theme this year. Many of the songs were about the importance of music and singing together. The fifth grade chorus enthusiastically took the stage and sang four pieces. The first was called “Let Us Sing Together,” a traditional folk round. Next came, “Funga Alafia,” an African welcome song.

Then the group sang the American folk tune, “Charlotte-town.” This group concluded their portion of the concert with a jazzy partner song called, “I Like to Sing” which included some amusing scat singing.

Next, the fifth grade beginner band was featured. Students in that group wowed the audience with their new instruments as they played a round of “Frere Jacques” and the upbeat piece, “We’ve Got the Spirit.”

The middle school chorus then performed four pieces. They began with “Sing For Joy,” from George F. Handel’s oratorio "Judas Maccabaeus." Then they entertained the audience with Irving Berlin’s, “Alexander’s Ragtime Band.”

Next, they sang the song from Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee celebration in 2012 entitled, “Sing.” That piece featured Jade Shipley, Brooke Thayer and Joanna Collins as soloists. The ensemble concluded their portion of the concert with the song made popular by recording artist Phillip Phillips called, “Gone, Gone, Gone.” That song also featured soloists Alison Donovan, Ellie Pratt, Angel Benner and Lily Souza.

The middle school band took the stage and delighted the audience with a jazzy piece called, “Rock to the Max, Mr. Sax.” Mr. Whitney joked that the title needed to be changed to “Rock to the Max, Ms. Sax,” because the saxophone section is made up entirely of females. The trumpets and trombones demonstrated how to use mutes for their instruments.

Mr. Whitney explained to the audience that mutes are really toilet plungers, but are a legitimate device used in jazz music! Next they thrilled the audience by playing the '80s hit by Bon Jovi, “Livin’ on a Prayer.” This piece featured Taylor Roberston on bass guitar and Keisha Small on drum-set.

The concert ended with a song performed by both of the choruses combined together. The song’s lyrics embodied the spirit of music education, and was called “Always Sing.” It was performed and written for National Music In Our Schools Month (which was celebrated in March) by up-and-coming country artist RaeLynn.

This was the last Wiscasset Middle School concert, as the grade levels and buildings are being reconfigured next year. The concert was directed by Carole Drury (Chorus) and Roger Whitney (Band).