By Mark Reynolds
For the past 65 years the Highland Music Department has hosted Scholarship Concerts, highlighting students musical skills. The money raised is awarded to deserving seniors at graduation to acknowledge their leadership, musicianship, dedication and professionalism in the school’s instrumental and choral programs.
Last week the choral concert opened with the 4th and 5th grade students, under the direction of Jodie McCaffrey, singing Sisi Ni Moja, which in Swahili means ‘We Are All One: The lyrics in part: “We are one world, one people, And we all breathe the same, In the darkness of the night and in the glory of the morning, We walk along the path and find our way.”
The 4th graders then sang, ‘Day-O (the Banana Boat Song) made famous by the late singer/actor Harry Belafonte with the 5th graders following with ‘The Never Ending Story’ a song from the film of the same name.
The 4th and 5th graders concluded their segment with ‘Waka Waka (This Time for Africa). It was co-written by Shakira and John Hill and became the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which was held that year in South Africa. The lyrics encourage the players to aim for goals like soldiers on a battlefield.
Choral Director Cailin Cienki ushered her 6th Grade Choir to the stage to sing three selections, starting with ‘Heal the World,” by the late Michael Jackson, ‘Break Free’ by singer Ariana Grande and concluded with ‘Pure Imagination’ from the 1971 film ‘Wily Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.’ It was sung by the late actor Gene Wilder: “Hold your breath, Make a Wish, Count to three, Come with me and you’ll be in a world of Pure Imagination.”
The 7th and 8th Choir opened their segment with, ‘I Can Feel the Rhythm’ by Greg Gilpin: “Music has a way of making me move. I want to snap along when I hear that groove.”
‘Roar’ by pop singer Katy Perry came next. The catchy chorus grabs you and never lets go: “I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire, cause I am champion and you’re gonna hear me roar louder, louder than a lion” “Lift Me Up,” by Rihanna closed out their segment of the concert.
The High School Choir, under Director Erin Matthews, began with the lively ‘Viva La Musica,’ by David Brunner followed by ‘Friday I’m In Love’ a 1992 single by the British rock band ‘The Cure’ with an insistent chorus: ‘Saturday, wait and Sunday always comes too late but Friday, never hesitate.’
Their last selection ‘Stand Up’ by Cynthia Erivo, was from the 2019 film ‘Harriet’ based on the life of abolitionist Harriet Tubman [1822-1913]. The chorus highlights the central theme of the movie: ‘That’s when I’m gonna stand up, Take my people with me, together we are going to a brand new home far across the river, Can you hear freedom calling? Calling me to answer, Gonna keep on keepin’ on, I can feel it in my bones.”
The concert concluded in a combined finale, with all students singing, ‘Thank You for the Music’ by the Swedish pop group ABBA. The chorus aptly conveyed the students sentiments:
“So I say thank you for the music, the songs I’m singing
Thanks for all the joy they’re bringing
Who can live without it? I ask in all honesty
What would life be?
Without a song or a dance, what are we?
So I say thank you for the music, for giving it to me.”
Afterwards all three of the directors commented on the concert. Jodie McCaffrey said it went well even though she only sees her students every six days.
“I’ve only seen them five or six times since December but they are very good at practicing,” she said.
Cailin Cienki said, “I think it went well; I have no complaints.”
Erin Matthews said, “the kids were really excited about it. The kids are really taking ownership of the program and they are the ones really driving it. They learned most of the music after February 14 and are super dedicated, really motivated and having a great time.”