By Chelsea Getchell
W-H student intern
The show will go on.
Postponed from March 3 due to a storm, a planned performance by the Whitman-Hanson Alumni Band has been rescheduled for 7 p.m., Friday, March 23 in the Dr. John F. McEwan Performing Arts Center at WHRHS.
Devin Dondero, the head of the Whitman Hanson band, is the conductor for the The Whitman-Hanson Alumni Band event — a night in which past band members, current band members and educators play about eight tunes together. It is widely agreed among those involved that having the community involved is exciting and beneficial. The evening is filled with music, knowledge and fun.
The pops concert brings current W-H students together with recent and veteran graduates for the eighth year.
“It’s nice to have the old guys come down and play with us. It’s interesting because the community band guys get to show people who haven’t been doing this for as long and give some advice,” said bassist James Segel, a senior from Hanson.
Not only do the student musicians get to perform in front of audience members, but they also get the positive learning experience that comes hand in hand with playing alongside other musicians. The alumni event offers more than one benefit to any beginner musicians in the high school band program.
This event attracts alumni and current Whitman-Hanson players alike, giving inspiration to the younger musicians who may be considering a future in music.
Matthew Gallagher, junior trumpeter, adds “It’s wonderful to have such a diverse group of players come down to the school and perform as one for entertainment.”
Networking notes
Many players love this event particularly because they can get tips and notes from mentors in their community, unlike any other event. The combination of community members serves to pass valuable knowledge onto young musicians and to offer a night of fun.
The Whitman-Hanson Alumni Band event has been running annually for about seven or eight years, and the band program intends to grow and continue to host it. Each year more people participate in the great night making it bigger and more successful. Musicians of all ages are invited to join in on the fun and perform with the community.
Maeve Rooney, trumpeter, says “I’ve been playing since fifth grade and this concert is especially fun because we get to see our Whitman-Hanson alumni.”