I have reviewed Jazz, Country, Bluegrass, Rock, Oldies, Big Bands, and Americana bands, but Monday morning found us at the new Signal Mountain Middle/High School for a presentation of the Chorus. It’s live, it’s music, and it’s local, so why not.
The performance today was a shining example of why we must strive to continue funding for the music departments in our public schools, even under tight budgeting times. Mrs. Jan Johnson is the Choral Director at SMMHS and has done a wonderful job in a very short time.
Today’s concert included several Appalachian folk ballads and old southern gospel songs, a performance by the bluegrass band “Mountain Cove”, and special accompaniment by world-renowned Hammered Dulcimer player Dan Landrum. The one-hour show went way to fast for my taste, as the Chorus did an excellent job with every piece.
Today’s performance featured both middle school and high school members, as well as a combined effort on some songs. There are about a hundred members in Chorus; despite the fact the school is but a few weeks old, and there is no senior class.
After the wonderful time I had today, I may make it a point to visit other school band and chorus performances throughout the year. And, I would recommend to any music lover to take a few minutes to check with your local school to discover for yourself the quality of these performances. Schools don’t get much funding for music nowadays, and the $3 contribution for the concert was well worth it for the musical value, not to mention it helps with the fund-raising efforts.