CGS Music Department performs Halloween Concert
The Chester Grade School Music Department hosted a Halloween Concert on October 31 that featured the 6th grade band, junior high chorus and the junior high band.
The theme was Halloween music, being that it was actually Halloween day. Students were allowed to dress in Halloween costumes that day and most elementary grade level classes had their Halloween parties earlier in the day.
"These band and chorus members have worked hard to prepare this music for you," said CGS Principal Tim Lochhead. "Please give them your undivided attention throughout the concert. They work this hard to impress you…their peers.
"You are their most important audience, so give them your attention and your applause when they finish each song."
Sue Colonel, CGS band director, opened the show with her 6th grade band. The 6th graders played two selections including "Creepy Crawlies" by Michael Story and "Doctor Boo!" by Franklin Adams, Jr.
"The group works hard in rehearsal and the fun part for them is performing for their audience," Colonel said. "It was easily seen by audience members that the 6th graders enjoyed performing and deserved all of the cheers and applause that the audience dished out."
The CGS Junior High Chorus, directed by CGS Choral Director Steve Colonel, then took the stage to perform three songs.
The first was written for the animated film, "Hotel Transylvania 2." The American girl group, Fifth Harmony, sang this song in a fun, gothic style.
The next choral number was a novelty piece that was just perfect for the Halloween concert.
"If you've ever heard a strange sound in your house in the middle of the night, you no doubt know the fear this song describes," the student narrator said. "Just as eyelids start to close, just as you begin to doze, there in the hall a resounding thump, things go bump in the night."
The choir then sang the song "Things go Bump in the Night" by Douglas E. Wagner. The vocal portion of the concert ended with a song that came from the score of the classical musical, "Little Shop of Horrors," with words by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken.
"The kids worked really hard to get ready for this performance," Steve Colonel said. "They did great.
"Even bigger things are in store for the rest of the year".
To close out the show, the Junior High Concert Band performed three songs. The first song was titled "Shenanigans," by Robert Sheldon.
Next, the Junior High Band played a song titled "The Ghost Lights of Newton County," by John Prescott before completing the concert with a spooky tune called "Alien Invasion" by David Gorham.
"I am very proud of all of the musicians and vocalists," Sue Colonel said. "They did a wonderful job of performing in front of their peers.
"That can sometimes be the toughest crowd to for which to perform."
Sue Colonel stated that the Junior High Band's next performance will be the Christmas Concert on Dec. 1 at 6:30 p.m. at Colbert Gymnasium.
"I strongly encourage all parents and music lovers to attend this annual festive event to kick off the holiday season," she said.