The Darien High School Band took a trip to Nashville several weeks ago to perform, attend a master class and visit some sites important in American musical history.
Shortly afterward, back at the high school, students from all grades presented their music at the 19th annual Young Composers Concert.
— announcements from Darien Public Schools Music Department
DHS Band in Nashville
The Darien High School Band, under the direction of Mr. Jonathan Grauer, traveled to Nashville on April 4 to 7.
Photo from the DPS Music Dept blog
At the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville
The Band students participated in a musical exchange with students at Cane Ridge High School. Each school band performed for each other and then performed a combined selection.
The Darien band alsohad master classes with faculty members at Vanderbilt University, visited the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry, and had the opportunity to record their music in historic RCA Studio B, where Elvis Presley made over 200 recordings.
Photo from the DPS Music Dept blog
The Darien High School Jazz Ensemble records in the historic RCA Studio B recording studio in Nashville. (Elvis was not in the building.)
Darien Young Composers Concert
The 19th annual Darien Young Composers Concert held at Darien High School on April 9 featured the original musical compositions of talented young composers from the Darien Public Schools.
Photo from DPS Music Dept blog
The 2019 Darien Young Composers with guest composer Mr. Darryl Tookes presented their music on April 9 at Darien High School
Our young composers, ranging in age from Kindergarten through Grade 12, had an opportunity to meet and ask questions of accomplished guest composer Darryl Tookes.
Photo from DPS Music Dept blog
Darien High School seniors and composers Elizabeth Garijo-Garde and Evelyn Sload pose for a picture with guest composer Darryl Tookes.
Mr.Tookes is a prolific vocalist performer, song writer and composer who is currently on the faculty of Florida A&M University and has performed with artists ranging from Elton John and String to Leonard Bernstein.
The students also received comments from Mr.Tookes on each of their compositions.
“This year’s group of talented Young Composers performed an amazing range of musical styles and expressed their thoughts and ideas through music,” said Music Director Richard Sadlon. “We are always impressed by their creativity and extremely proud of their musical accomplishments.”
This year’s featured young composers were:
Kindergarten: Willian Telgheder, Grade 2: Lucy Appel, Medeline Galligan Grade 3: Alistar Jespersen, Lauren Erdlen, Grade 4: Caroline Galligan, Sienna Hall, Charlotte Cowles, Gavin Wheeler, Melody Long, Caroline Clemow, Ashley Rogers Grade 5: Lilly Davenport, Ella Goodrich, Mackenzie Boulton-Wallace, Mackenna Boulton-Wallace, Mackenzie Fosdick Grade 6: Charlotte West, Allison Valji, Katelyn Erdlen, Cece Cummins Elise Shulman Grade 7: Sriram Pankanti, Vaughan Silcox Grade 8: Anya Napoli, Theo Bang, Nikhil Talwalkar Grade 11: John Phipps, John McGovern, Grade 12: Elizabeth Garijo-Garde and Evelyn Sload