The Black and White

by Jillian Mastrostefano

On the evening of December 4th at 6:00pm, Pilgrim’s Concert Band students filled the school’s auditorium with blended sounds of warm instrumentals, a heated tone against the outside’s bitter cold–a proper ‘winter concert’. 

The evening’s show included songs composed by several artists, each performance highlighting various instruments. From the concert band as a whole, to strings only, to a distinct group of jazz instruments–every student with their own instrument shaped together to create an ultimate execution on stage. 

Opening the show was the entire concert band, performing two beautifully composed songs, The City of Lights by Andrew Watkin and Flamingo Road by Steve Hodges. This group, consisting of a large majority of instruments from clarinets and flutes to trumpets and saxophones, managed to execute these songs in such balanced harmony and devoted spirit, the crowd responded with enthusiastic applause. With more than thirty members, it’s incredibly impressive to see this diversity of instruments so united and connected with each other.

Following the performance of the concert band, the string ensemble took the stage next, consisting of thirteen students with violins and a single cello. These members performed three unique songs, showcasing a gracious sense of stage presence and expression. String instruments tend to be such precise and delicate instruments, creating a melodic tune which was evident on stage. 

To end the night’s presentation was a three song performance by the jazz band, focusing mainly on brass-made instruments such as trumpets and different saxophones, also included was a piano and the congas.

Jazz is such a complex form of sound, but this group of musicians made it seem so easy. Gifted with a number of solos between songs, the audience got to see a highlight of numerous students and their different instruments, all while relishing in the several varied sounds within each song. “Jazz band did superb improv solos, so I was really really proud of what they did musically,” said music teacher and band conductor, Mrs. Watterson. This jazz band brought out the fun in music, practically living through their instruments. 

None of this musical talent could have been seen or performed without the control of that very same conductor, Mrs. Watterson. “Overall I’m very proud of them. They had a couple of struggles earlier on, and we talked about them and worked through them and then overall they did a wonderful job, definitely.”

Mrs. Watterson cares deeply about these students and it is clear how much she wants them to succeed musically, always willing to help them with whatever struggles and whatever needs they come across. This winter concert would have been nothing without her guidance and expertise.