HPHS Band Ends School Year with a Bang!

The music emanating from the high school auditorium one recent evening wasn’t heavy metal rock. It was a unique composition performed by the school’s Wind Ensemble entitled “Foundry.” Written in 2011 by John Mackey, the piece simulates sounds from a metalworking factory. The augmented percussion section featured “instruments” such as a metal garbage can lid played on a rippled piece of sheet metal and assorted pots and pans deftly struck by metal mallets. A ball-peen hammer banged away on several anvils added another dimension to the music.

Band Director, Dr. Jim Hile, commented throughout the Spring Band Concert. He mentioned how proud he was of the students getting ready for the concert in just three weeks rather than the normal five to six weeks. He praised members of all three bands for their diligence and hard work in getting ready in such a short time.

Several soloists were featured throughout the concert. The first soloist group to perform was a French horn quartet made up of Scott Beck, Maggie Cullather, Sarah Freeman and Max Schwartz. The group performed Robert Schumann’s “Konzertstuke” with the Concert Band. The quartet attacked Schumann’s difficult rising and falling arpeggios with panache.  

Another featured soloist was alto saxophonist Manny Schneck. He brilliantly performed the unaccompanied composition by Astor Piazolla entitled “Tango Etude #6.” Dr. Hile referred to Manny as the “fastest fingers in the Midwest.”

Spencer Hile was one of the two guest conductors at the concert. He led the Concert Band in soundtrack music from the animated film, “How to Train Your Dragon.” Spencer has been a Student Instructor in the high school’s band program.

Another guest conductor for the evening’s performance was Dr. Robert Hanson. Having recently retired as the Music Director of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Dr. Hanson made a special appearance leading the HPHS Wind Symphony in Carl Maria von Weber’s “Concertino.” What made the performance unique was due to the clarinet soloist being Dr. Hanson’s granddaughter, Alexandra Swanson! She performed the challenging piece with ease.

Dr. Hanson conducted the Wind Symphony in his own composition, “Dance of Two Worlds.” Originally scored for orchestra, Dr. Hanson rearranged the piece for band as a graduation gift to his granddaughter, Alex.  Two main themes
dominated the piece – The Lelanau County (MI) song and a Native American
melody.

Dr. Hile resumed conducting final piece – music from the 1972 John Wayne film, “The Cowboys.” John Williams wrote the score early in his career as a movie soundtrack composer. Themes from future John Williams scores were noted.

Subsequently, the Wind Symphony received a well-deserved standing ovation and took bows not only for themselves but for the other two bands that performed. Some 130 students comprise the three bands. An encore of Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” caused the audience to stand during the music and give all of the band students another standing "O.”

Earlier Dr. Hile introduced the 28 graduating seniors from the three bands. Many of these fine student musicians plan to continue their musical interests in college and some expect to graduate with degrees in music education. The community should be proud of someone like Dr. Hile who inspires students with extremely challenging music. The love of fine music will undoubtedly be something they’ll have their entire lives.