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Photo by Westwood Minute/Darlene Wong Cancell. Band director, Lori Labedz, prepares the Westwood Public Schools Grade 5 Band for the final notes of its performance at Westwood High School auditorium on Wednesday night.
12-14-2023 12:12am
WPS Grade 5 and Grade 6 Bands Perform in Concert to Enthusiastic Reception
Darlene Cancell
Editor
On the evening of Wednesday, December 13th, at 6:30 p.m., fifth and sixth graders in Westwood Public Schools gave a concert performance in the Westwood High School auditorium, where the exuberance of the performers onstage was matched by the enthusiasm of their supporters in the audience.
The program began with the Grade 5 band, where elementary instrumental music instructor Lori Labedz directed. Ms. Labedz gave the surprising information that the group of over 120 fifth graders had never performed together until the 5:30 p.m. dress rehearsal that same day. Before that time, the students learned the same music during class time while attending Deerfield, Downey, Hanlon, Martha Jones and Sheehan elementary schools. The district's fifth graders successfully carried off their performance. They performed their finale, "Rock This Band," twice. The piece included clapping and slapping by some students while other played. The second time around, audience was invited to join.
Dr. Allison Sanders led the Grade 6 band. Much smaller in number, with around 20 musicians, the Thurston Middle School band showed off the difference that a year of experience can make. Following their performance of "Candy Cane Lane," a piece with different instruments playing different parts, the band ended with a unison piece, "Ode to Joy." The audience responded with delight as the concert ended, offering enthusiastic calls and applause. Some student musicians answered with a raise of an arm triumphantly in the air, sometimes while still clutching their brass instrument.
Another band concert is planned to take place in June next year.
Photo by Westwood Minute/Darlene Wong Cancell. Dr. Allison Sanders leads the Westwood Public Schools Grade 6 Band in both parts and unison playing.
