BRHS Pep Band’s spring concert was held Thursday, May 28 in the school’s auditorium. On the heels of Memorial Day, the performance featured a variety of Americana and military-themed compositions, ranging from mid-century television marches to complex symphonic overtures. Songs were curated and conducted by Dr. Mary Miller.

Kicking off the event was Jerry Fielding’s upbeat 1965 “Hogan’s Heroes March,” featuring a dynamic drum cadence, punchy brass counterpoints and a playful, recognizable rhythm to get the crowd engaged. On percussions, Anthony Angelico and Margaret McCarthy (marimba) set march-like rhythms before Brady Baldwin (flute) and John Cooper and Abby Orchard (clarinets) took the lead with the staccato melody that gives the song its iconic personality.

The band’s second song was its “reach” song, according to Miller. Charles Carter’s 1963 “Symphonic Overture” is a contemporary-sounding overture of some difficulty, flexibly scored to be performed by both large and small bands, and in this performance, the slower, more expressive second theme offered Jayden Coulombe (tenor saxophone) a golden solo opportunity that was well capitalized. Coulombe was recognized for making all-district band. Momentum from the overture carried into the band’s third song, John Newton’s 1772 “Amazing Grace,” arranged by Sean O'Loughlin.

Cooper and Orchard on clarinets, and Baldwin on flute, once again took the reins in Gioachino Rossini’s 1829, “William Tell Overture,” a piece composed decades before the saxophone was invented. But that didn’t stop Silas Kaler (alto sax) from capturing his moment; taking over the rapid-fire lines originally written for violins or trumpets, playing brisk tempos and navigating ascending and descending tones with poise and agility.

The audience can’t help but fall for the rich and deeply warm enchantments produced by Byron Hill’s tuba; the lowest instrument in the brass family, the "sub-woofer" of the BRHS Pep Band, Hills coaxes room-filling bassy swells that delight. The final song, Paul Murtha’s 2000 “Forward March!” brought the band full circle, back to the drum-heavy march-style beats. Seniors Orchard and Angelico were honored with roses for their final concert performances. Band members not present: Matthew Carpenter (alto sax), Daegen Marshall (flute), Kora McKenney and Alexander Blake (percussions).