At Wayne Hills, the Spring Music Concert took place last year, where various ensembles and bands came together to perform the music they had prepared. The event featured groups like the Percussion Ensemble (known as WHIP!), Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble.
Mr. Paterno, the director, shared, “I always hope the students will take away more from the rehearsals and study of the music as there are far more days involved in that! I do hope all involved in the concert, both performers and listeners, are able to “connect” with at least one piece of music on a deeper level than just enjoyment. An emotion, an experience, a memory, something that enhances their life through music.”
As the new concert draws near, we reflect on last year’s memorable performances that put the audience in a new level of connection through music. The Percussion Ensemble opened the show with The March of Time, setting an energetic tone for the evening. The Jazz Ensemble followed with Pass the Hot Sauce and The Incredibles, showcasing a series of exciting solos.
Mr. Paterno also mentioned some challenges in preparing for the concert: “this year, time always seemed very short. We had the NJSMA Region Band Festival in March, and we really only had until the end of April to prepare because of testing and APs. I was very proud of the students for the preparation and work they did on their own! The music was both technically and expressively challenging, but that is kinda the fun part!”
The Symphonic Band then performed a series of pieces, including Galop, First Suite in Eb, Beacons, and Foundry, with Matthew Mousseau as the guest conductor for the final piece. The Wind Ensemble closed with Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, a dramatic suite of movements titled War, Pestilence, Famine, and Death.
Reflecting on the students’ growth, Mr. Paterno shared, “Wow! Especially this year, the students have grown not only in their personal playing abilities but in their artistic awareness as well. We had people who were new to their instruments in September playing solos in May!”
In addition, this concert marked Mr. Mousseau’s last 
day at Wayne Hills. He said, “I have a lot of favorite memories, but one of them has to be working with the concert band on
selective pieces.” He also added, “my experience working with the students has been amazing! I learned a lot here in Wayne Hills and loved teaching the students!” His message to the students was, “Hard work will always beat talent.”
As the Wayne Hills Winter Concert approaches today and tomorrow, we look forward to new performances that continue to showcase the dedication and growth of our talented musicians. Thank you to everyone for their hard work and passion for music, and we can’t wait to see what this year’s concert brings!
