I don’t often say much, but this morning after our Christmas concert last night I find myself reflective and grateful. It is the end of 2017, and I wish to share just a little bit.
There is so much that goes into a large program like the Christmas program last evening, and as I sit here this morning I recognize that it could not happen without so much effort from so many people. We had a full house last night in the auditorium with well over 400 tickets sold, and 130+ students performed beautifully and musically.
Thank you first to Kay Kizer, our substitute choir director, who jumped right in and did so much to get this show ready. From hanging signs, rehearsing with the students, to helping with setup and conducting at the beginning of the show, Kay was there. It is difficult to step into someone else’s program and keep it going, and she has really stepped up to the challenge.
Next, thank you to the behind-the-scenes students who don’t always receive the recognition they deserve. Jackson Barnes spent a significant amount of time Monday evening taking notes and jumping back and forth between sound and lights making sure everything went smoothly on stage. Our stage crew, Brooke Kertai, Haylee King, Anna Leeper, and Jacob Miller kept the transitions between pieces very smooth, moving equipment and remembering where everything should be between pieces for all 22 pieces. In addition, when they were performing themselves, several other unnamed students stepped up and made sure those details were kept up. Next, the Musical Theatre Class did a wonderful job decorating the stage and making sure everything looked perfect for the show. The choreography for the dances was created by another great group of students, Olivia Leeper, Macenzie Meister, Sarah Schweisberger, and Maria Thornton.
Thank you to another group—the behind-the-scenes adults! Rita Jeffirs and Lisa Pace created tickets and sold them at the front door, and Christi Patterson provided a bank for change. Dave and Tara Bailey took those tickets from patrons and answered questions at the door. Judy Brinkoff copied the programs, and Jessica Hall folded them. Kevin Pollard and Tammy Young, two members of our custodial team, cleaned and prepared the auditorium for this performance. Kathy Ayoub answered my panicked questions via Facebook about running the sound board just before our dress rehearsal. Kyle Davis, our swimming coach who had a swim meet rescheduled on top of the concert was incredibly accommodating for the students with conflicts, as was Sarah Wesselhoft and her Winter guard practice conflict. Bruce Jennings and Andrew Rohde, our high school administrators, continue to make sure there is a space in our high school schedule and our high school finances to allow for a music program to flourish. Similarly, Larry Yelaska and Reggie Flesvig continue to make space in their schedules and time to allow music classes to exist—something not every school can boast about! Then there is Karmen Leeper, who began all of these students’ musical education in elementary school, providing the foundation for them to continue in band and choir in middle school. A little further behind the scenes is a much larger group of people who support our entire program. Dozens of businesses and individuals have donated thousands of dollars this year to help replace and repair equipment, music, and pay for fees and other supplies. Every year just the band has to come up with nearly $70,000 in revenue, and every year we find a way through school funding, fees, fund raising, and donations.
Thank you to all of our students and their parents.
To the parents— first and most importantly, thank you for showing up and showing the students you care. Thank you for selling those fund raising items or donating money even when you didn’t want to. Thank you for providing instruments for your child, and bringing them to the extra rehearsals and activities within the band. Thank you for recognizing the incredible importance of music education on the development of these young people.
To the students—Thank you for going above and beyond. You prepared through rehearsals, both in class and on your own. You set up and tore down the stage without complaint. You ran this concert. You did the transitions, began your pieces, prepared your pieces, and made sure everything went the way you were supposed to. Thank you for being so responsible and dependable that we could trust you with running the concert nearly on your own. Last night Mrs. Kizer and myself were able to sit back, watch, and be proud of what you have done. You prepared well, not just musically, but every part of a large production, and the results were magnificent.
Thank you to my wife, Cha Sutton, for putting up with me complaining at home, and supporting me when I am at school, probably far too often than I should.
If I missed anyone while typing this up, please do not take offense. My mind is limited, and the possibility that I have forgotten someone is very real. You are appreciated.
It’s Christmas! We have so much to be thankful for, and today I am grateful for all of the support our community continues to show to these students. If you see any student or adult who were involved in the creation of this program, please stop and give them a thank you. They deserve it.
Musically Yours,
Matthew Sutton
Director of Bands
Bremen Public Schools