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Rocky Heights Middle School musicians on tour

The fourth and fifth grade students at Buffalo Ridge Elementary enjoyed the musical performances. One fifth grade student remarked, “I can’t wait for middle school!”

Article and photo by Amy Shanahan

The Rocky Heights Middle School (RHMS) band and orchestra went on tour in February, and played gigs at Buffalo Ridge, Timber Trail and Redstone Elementary schools.

Band and orchestra teacher Joe Anderies coordinated this effort in order to connect RHMS students more directly to the younger students in the feeder schools, and he hopes to get more students involved in the before and after school instrumental programs.

“I want to allow the elementary students to have a more direct connection to the possibilities of music if they get started with, or continue an instrument in middle school,” remarked Anderies.

The band played a large concert band piece by Russel Standridge called “Pandora”, a jazz arrangement of Horace Silver’s Liberated Brother (Latin jazz) featuring Gordon Demeter on drumset, and a piece from “Pirates of the Caribbean.”

The orchestra featured a piece called “Momentum”, a classical piece with percussion, percussive effects on the string instruments called Arethusa, a jazz arrangement of Fiddle Funk, and the rock orchestra arrangement of Coldplay’s Clocks.

Eighth grade band member Tolex Gregory had a great time performing for the elementary school kids. “It went really well, and it was pretty exciting playing for the kids,” he remarked. “We had a really good response from them and it was a fun thing to do!”

Elementary school-age students are encouraged to participate in the before and after school programs offered by the school district.

For more information, contact Mike Stroman by e-mail or Debbie Davidson-Stanfill by e-mail

Members of the band performed solos during the jazz arrangement, and the Buffalo Ridge Elementary students were inspired to clap along.

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