Thrilling audiences with a mixture of talented singers and musicians, the Spring Concert held on May 23 showcased the talent within Downey High School’s choir and band groups. Within choir there is a division between the advanced group and beginners, with each demonstrating their level of talent. Band also has a different division, one based on wind instruments and the other utilizing brass instruments.
The event started promptly at 7:00 and lasted until 8:30 with a small intermission. To start off the concert, band directors Mr. Olariu and Mr. Fell welcomed the crowd and told jokes to warm the air. Beginning choir introduced themselves and sang, “We Can Share a Dream,” to which the audience responded positively. Soloists Allie Nava, Alexandra Posueloz, Viviana Sanchez, and Shantelle Soto all took the stage and wowed audiences, ending with “El Vito.”
Immediately following their performance, Advanced Choir filed up to the stage and sang “Yo Le Canto Todo El Dia.” A strong first choice, the group grabbed the attention of the audience. Because DHS will be hosting a jazz themed concert on May 30, Advanced Choir infused jazz and bluesy tunes into their performance to promote their future event. Singing “Killing Me Softly,” soloists Kayla Nada and Francis Flores pleased the crowd with their synergetic voices.
“It’s one of my favorite songs to sing,” senior Flores said. “I always get nervous when I sing, but being up there and trying to make the audience happy makes me try my best. This is something I really love doing.”
Caleb Mukathe felt the same way. As the single soloist for the song “Tshotsholoza,” Mukathe expertly sang the African song with his low voice.
“Singing is my passion,” Mukathe said.
After the short intermission, concert band assembled their instruments. Beginning with “American River Songs,” the slow music was a tonal shift from the upbeat and energetic song sung just prior. This group received the same warm applause.
Wind Ensemble was the last group to perform. They started off with “Raging Machines.”
“It was a pleasure to come,” parent Cecilia Ramirez said. “I liked listening to the wonderful music.”
The Wind Ensemble ended with a bang, playing “Africa: Ritual, Ceremony, and Song.” The song was loud and boisterous, but in a way so elegant that it did not attack the ears but instead complimented it. Certainly, the Wind Ensemble stole the show with their smash hit. The band will perform again Wed., May 30, at the DHS Theater, and the theme will be jazz.
