On Saturday evening, May 24, at McKinley auditorium Bands 1-4 presented their final concert of the year.

The 45-member Band 1 demonstrated their musical skills by performing four contrasting pieces, Cimarron, Three Meditations, an unusual composition for some waste containers called Trash Concerto and In Darkest Night. The students played beautifully.

The 50 students of Band 2 followed, performing the Sousa march Manhattan Beach, followed by Kronos and The Red Balloon, two pieces that the band had performed earlier in May for adjudication, receiving a superior rating, and ending with selections from High School Musical.  All of the compositions were performed very well.

The 44 students of Band 3 opened their section of the program with Brian Balmages' Sparks, followed by Robert W. Smith’s Spirit of the Winds. Mr. Smith worked with the band on this composition when he visited 'Iolani this past January. The Gathering of the Ranks at Hebron was next, followed by selections from The Lion King.  The students of Band 3 were able to demonstrate their technical as well as musical ability in these pieces.

As the 66 members of Band 4 took the stage, the percussion sections of Bands 3 and 4 did a very entertaining and skillful percussion ensemble piece, much like the players of the musical Stomp, using very ordinary implements.  The piece was not only rhythmically exciting but visually entertaining as well. The audience loved it.

Band 4 performed their section of the program very musically. The three selections were technically and musically challenging and the ensemble handled every aspect of the selections extremely well. There were lots of solo and small ensemble moments, which offered a nice contrast to the full band sound. The three pieces performed were Alfred Reed’s The Music-Makers Overture, Philip Sparke’s Music for a Festival and John Williams The Cowboys.  As the bands performed Robert W. Smith’s Friends, the seniors in the group were recognized. It was a very nice ending to an evening of great music.

Congratulations to our two band teachers, Lynn Muramaru and Richard Hotoke, for an outstanding concert.