Stowsentry.com - Wind ensemble shines in 'American Celebration'

by Tess Wolfe

Reporter

Stow -- As patriotic, two-dimensional images were projected on the wall of the Stow-Munroe Falls High School auditorium May 3, members and veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces each stood in turn.

While individuals from each branch of the military stood, themes from "The Caisson Song," "The Marines' Hymn," "Anchors Aweigh," "Semper Paratus" and "The U.S. Air Force" were performed by the Stow-Munroe Falls High School Wind Ensemble.

The "American Celebration of Film Music" drew an audience of more than 450 attendees, who filled the lower and upper seating levels of the auditorium for the nearly two-hour concert.

An annual event, this year's "American Celebration" concert provided a perspective of U.S. history through a multimedia montage of American film scores.

The 54 students participating in the ensemble of brass, woodwind and percussion instruments represent the "top quarter" of those who play in the school band, said music department chairperson Brian Monroe, who conducted the performance. Vocalist Meredith Schueneman and violinist Sarah Behal also performed, while Maranda Kibler, a student teacher from The University of Akron, conducted "Music from Apollo 13."

Beginning with the "20th Century Fox Fanfare" and closing with a "Salute to America's Finest," the concert provided an overview of American culture from the early 20th Century to the present.

As the ensemble performed John Williams' "Hymn to the Fallen," the names of local members of the military, Stow-Munroe Falls High School graduates in some cases, were projected on the wall near the stage.

A music teacher at the high school for 18 years and head band director for 12 years, Monroe conducted the performance and put together the musical, oral and visual portions of the program. He chose the scores, wrote the explanatory vignettes read by students as background to each musical section and created the visual presentation projected on the wall throughout the concert.

"These are special concerts, because it's just the one ensemble by itself," he said. "I wanted an opportunity for those kids in band to do more than we can during a normal concert. It's also a 'thank you' to the community for supporting us."

Monroe decided to include the names of those from the area who died in service when he received a letter from the parent of a former student.

"That section, 'Hymn to the Fallen,' came out of a letter from a parent whose child was killed in Iraq," said Monroe. "It really makes the students dig deep down in their soul to play it."

Ensemble member Erica Archer, who played both flute and piccolo during the concert, said the experience moved her.

"I thought it was pretty amazing," Archer, a senior, said. "It was my favorite [concert] of all four years. It's pretty great that people can experience American history through the music."

At the end of the evening, the ensemble garnered two standing ovations from the audience.

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