More than 100 gathered at Wiscasset Middle High School Sunday evening to hear a concert by the Opus One Big Band accompanied by WMHS band and vocal students. The evening included hits from Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington and Glenn Miller.

Opus One has musicians from around the state, including current and former school band directors. It performs to benefit libraries, churches and schools. This was the fifth annual concert to benefit Wiscasset Schools Music Department. Wiscasset educators held quite a representation in the band with WMHS band director Kim Brewer on saxophone, former middle school band director Roger Whitney on trombone, and former high school band director John Morneau on saxophone. Brewer’s connection to the group spurred the collaboration on the annual event.

Brewer said, "I felt like it was a great way to give students the opportunity to play side-by-side with professional-level musicians, and also to challenge them with music that is at a slightly higher level than what they are used to. It is also a great way to bring the community together and raise money to support the music department." She added, her students told her it gives them a confidence boost to know they can play the music with the professionals.

Opus One Director Dale Perkins noted the group has been playing for almost 40 years. He told the audience the group brings a milkcrate full of music, shows up around 2 p.m. and puts the tunes together, with this year’s pre-concert routine including rehearsals with the students. “Some of the tunes we read all the way through, some we didn’t, some we fixed, some we couldn’t,” he said to the laughter of the crowd, and he thanked the musicians who “just come here to help the kids and help the program.”

A highlight of the night was the participation from WMHS band and vocal students. Senior Megan Syrjala joined the band early in the evening for “Straighten Up and Fly Right.” Several other student vocalists joined in on various tunes. WMHS band students joined Opus One for the final two songs of the night, “Vehicle” and “Sing, Sing, Sing.”

“It’s a real pleasure playing with the students, and that’s really what this event is all about.”  

Ticket sales, a bake sale and 50/50 raffle proceeds went toward the music department.