On May 12, at the Lakewood Civic Auditorium, the LHS band came together to create something remarkable. They had spent months rehearsing various music pieces to showcase their talents. As friends and family filled the auditorium seats, the lights flickered, signaling the start of the performance. Moments later, the lights dimmed, and the crowd’s chatter quieted.
Band director Clinton Steinbrunner shares some behind-the-scenes insights into how the musicians prepared for their concert performance.
“The two main ways we prepare, [are that] we rehearse in class every day, so that’s when we work on putting all of the different parts together and making sure that the group sounds good altogether,” Steinbrunner said. “Then also, the band members are practicing on their own to make sure that they can play their own individual part.”
Steinbrunner shares his favorite aspects of band music and enjoying the camaraderie of working with others to create something amazing.
“I think what I like most about band is that it gives people a chance to connect and enjoy doing something together,” Steinbrunner said. “It’s also a great way to watch yourself improve on something over a long time. You also get to watch your friends improve around you, and then as everybody gets better, you just get to enjoy the experience.”
The concert began with the song “March Phantasma,” which conveyed an eerie atmosphere, adding suspense to each note and hinting at what was to come. The crowd was silent and amazed by the talent on stage that night. When the piece finished, a large applause followed.
Another song performed was “Kitty Hawk 1903,” an interesting song with its mystical, light vibe, complemented by wind chimes at the beginning that capture the audience’s attention. The song features a fun yet calming melody throughout.
Freshman John Grasso explains how he joined the school band and discusses his personal preparations.
“I chose trumpet back in sixth grade, the transition to middle school,” Grasso said. “Most of my friends were doing trumpet, and it was just the most intriguing one to me. Before the concert, usually two days before, I’ll bring my instrument home and just practice all the pieces. Also, just calming my nerves.”
Each young musician dedicated extensive effort to creating a memorable concert, with many days spent preparing for this special night.
Hank Janko, a freshman tenor saxophone player, shared his hopes before the concert.
“I just hope it goes well,” Janko said. “We put in a good bit of effort. We’ve been working on the same three pieces for four months. So I’m hoping it’ll go as planned. I guess the outcome would just be going home and knowing that we did a good job.”
Janko also shares how he joined the band.
“Well, my parents did band, so they wanted me to do it,” Janko said. “Music opens up a lot of opportunities for a bunch of different stuff.”
This music community demonstrates its passion for developing and nurturing musical talent through collaboration, making the experience even more enriching than working alone.
Maeve Murray, a sophomore in the marching band, shares her perspective on the uniqueness of the performing arts.
“My favorite memory was one time we had an away game on a Saturday,” Murray said. “It was a marching band Festival, and it was really fun. Everyone just got along that day.”
Murray’s memories echo Steinbrunner’s sentiments on how music unites everyone—a community of individuals with different roles but the same passion.
The LHS band and all music departments demonstrate great dedication and hard work. This concert is just one of many outstanding performances by this talented group, with many more to come in the future.
