On Thursday nights Bongo usually tunes into to the District 158 board meetings on line. But last night Bongo thought he’d try something different.
Bongo heard through the doggie grapevine that there was going to be a special concert at Heineman Middle School. Don’t get this pooch wrong; any concert featuring the budding talents of kids is special, but this one was extraordinary. Other people must have been tuning in to the doggie grapevine too, because the place was packed!
Imagine a community where everyone got along and people from three different generations sat together, sharing a love of music. Imagine a multi-generational setting where there was no arguing about taxes and who was to blame for what, and no political undertones regarding the purpose of the event. Imagine Sun City residents sitting in between 7th and 8th graders, all tapping their toes and keeping the same beat, all hoping not to miss their next musical cue.
This was the reality in the Heineman gymnasium last night.
The band director applied for and received a grant from the District 158 Education Foundation which allowed her to bring in professional composer and tuba player. Dr. Michael Forbes, who worked with students and composed a special song just for them. Part of the evening featured the 7th and 8th grade concert band playing songs that featured Forbes on his tuba and mellophone and songs composed by Forbes.
The other half of the evening featured a low brass ensemble which included brass musicians ranging in age from 12 to 70. Bongo watched with his tail wagging to the beat as the community came together in harmony for this concert.
What a treat for the kids, who got to learn from not only the talented Dr. Forbes, but also from top notch musicians from Sun City. What a treat for the Sun City musicians, who got to return to the early days of band, when budding musicians are just beginning their musical journey.
Bongo has always felt that Sun City was a gem in District 158, and Bongo thanks the District 158 Education Foundation for providing the funds which allowed this great multi-generational evening to take place.
1 comment:
Sent to Bongo from former board member Rosemary Herringer:
Bongo sure sniffed out a win-win night. It was a full circle from the music teacher to the Education Foundation and their resources and efforts to the musicians young and old and their adoring audience. This is what community is all about. It makes me proud to toot the horn from Sun City to the schools!!
Rosemary Herringer
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