Seniors on Tonight's Concert

The Riley Center for the Performing Arts is hosting the Spring Concert tonight, Thursday April 28th at 6:30pm.  Sixty musicians from the Instrumental and Vocal Music Ensembles will perform works from the Incredibles, Lion King, Beatles, Hollow Knight, Hamilton, Jungle Book, Arc Survival, Christopher Tin, Stevie Wonder & Chick Corea. 

This is very exciting because the last spring concert was three years ago when seniors this year were freshmen! “We have 30 seniors, 22 who have been with us all 4 years, who will be performing their final concert on the Riley Center Stage Thursday night”, says Julie Freeburn. 

I wanted to ask some of the seniors for their insight on their last performance here at BBA. 

Will Addington-

Definitely bittersweet. The concerts have been such a huge part of my music experience at BBA and I’m so excited to finish strong, but I’m also going to miss the band and the concerts next year. 

Jesse Dykes-

It's both sad and refreshing. After this, I get back some more free time but it also means that my time with the people I've worked so hard alongside to create music not only for this concert, but for all past performances as well, is almost over. Nothing will ever beat the feeling of finishing a successful concert and being hyped up and energetic with the other performers.

Jenna Parker-

Part of me is excited to be performing again, but I’m also sad. Chorus is one of the things I’m going to miss after graduation. I’ll miss performing as well as creating music with a group of people.

Will Addington- 

I will be playing bass clarinet and piano. Some of my favorite songs I’m playing in are Spain by Chick Corea, the Incredibles theme, and Country Roads. 

Jesse Dykes- 

I will be performing the pieces with the band and Circuits. Actually, the band and Circuits are both playing different songs I suggested 2 years ago during COVID. I brought up Hollow Knight to Neil early on and stumbled upon the little demo he made then. I reintroduced the idea to him and he rewrote it and handed it out to the band. It's my favorite piece and I will remember it well. Circuits picked up Wellerman alongside a group of male singers. This suggestion came from the mini sea shanty phase of the internet after Christmas of 2020.

Jenna Parker-

I will be singing “He Lives in You” from the Lion King, “Bare Necessities” from the Jungle Book, “Country Roads Take Me Home”, “Baba Yetu” composed by Christopher Tin, “When I’m 64” by the Beatles, and a medley of songs from Hamilton the musical titled “Hamilton Highlights”.

Will Addington-

I love the process of practicing with the band, but the actual final performance is always the most memorable. 

Jesse Dykes- 

Actual performance, easily. Being percussion means that my parts don't usually sound all that interesting on my own, so practicing can get tedious and boring fast. Plus, there's a different feeling that comes from everyone being in sync in the moment. It's a raw energy that nothing in my life has ever matched. And, everyone should watch it, and if you can't come and can't watch the livestream, a video recording of the performance will be uploaded to the same spot to watch at any later date. While you could always just wait for it to be over and watch it online, there is nothing that beats being in the room as the music is made. The low vibration of the bass instruments becomes a tangible feeling in your chest, the rise and fall of volume and intensity is clear and pristine; no digital music can ever beat the feeling, the life, that live music shares.

Jenna Parker- 

I would definitely say I like to perform the most. Preparing and practicing is also fun, especially when things start to fall into place and begin sounding good, but the feeling of performing is one of my favorites.