The Pirate Post

MORE THAN JUST CAROLS: SOUTHEAST BAND AND CHOIR

 By: Emma Wood & Leila Evans

Close your eyes: now imagine the lights dimming, and the first breaths of a chord hanging within the air, and now think to yourselves: what do I feel? If you feel serene, calm, and perfect in this space, then you are imagining the annual winter performances of the band and choirs at Southeast High School. 

Southeast swing choir

With every note that is sung, and every pitch that is perfected, from the brass section of the band to the dance breaks in the choir, one truth rings out above all: our band and choirs are some of the best around, and deserve to be acknowledged for this. 

We have two choirs at Southeast: Swing Choir and Concert Choir. The winter concert will delight the audience with many soft, languid (and clapping) tunes, while the Swing Choir will dance and sing their hearts out. 

The dance feature is to a song called Gettin’ In The Mood For Christmas by Mac Huff, where the dance feature will be Alexis Crum, Hunter Nutter, and Jason Benecke. The former two are a hallmark couple that explores the traditional hallmark movie (as well as the misunderstanding), and Benecke is the Santa Claus with a breakdance feature that brings them all together. Their performance will stand as proof that music is not just something you can hear, it’s something you feel and see. Director Joel Kithcart leads them. Junior Elise Kennedy says that she is most looking forward to “…all of the fun choreography that Emma [Wood] made.” Through sharp choreography, contagious energy, and vocals that will carry the entire room, please enjoy the Southeast Choirs! 

We also have two bands! Jazz Band and Concert Band. Jazz is the elite band that includes our best performers. They also have a different group of instruments than a concert band, such as a guitar and drum sets. They play higher-level tunes and more upbeat jazz. They do a lot of solo parts and play a bunch of carols. Songs the bands are doing this year that they are excited for include Most Wonderful Time of the Year and Christmas Flourish for Concert Band, and for Jazz Band, they will do Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree and Big Band Holiday. The concert band takes the same approach to music as the Concert Choir. Both are led by director Melanie Jackson. They just had chair auditions, so make sure you congratulate them all when you see them! 

While the audience sees the final result, it’s important to remember that the real story lies behind the curtain. Students sprinting between rooms, tuning in corners, running harmonies at theatre practice in the hallway, adjusting uniforms, and, as always, trying to steady their nerves. People don’t realise what goes into it; they are not just learning music, they are building an entire experience. 

LIST OF UPCOMING PERFORMANCES:

  • December 12th: Playhouse Square performance for the Swing Choir.
  • December 13th: The big concert with both band and choir and grades 5 and up. 
  • December 15th: Swing Choir is going to the Middle School and performing with them. 
  • Miscellaneous performances include the Liberty Bible Church performance, a nursing home performance, caroling around the school, and more!