There were missing sounds at this year’s Haldane Winter Concert.
The Blue Notes, an A Capella group, and the Blues Devils, Haldane’s in-house rock and roll band, did not perform with the Wind Ensemble, Chorus, and Jazz Band on December 12. This decision was made by the music department, who decided to separate the Blue Notes and Blues Devils from Haldane’s traditional chorus and band performance in the Holiday and Spring concerts.
Sam Sauer, Haldane’s Chorus teacher and Blue Notes advisor, said he and Blues Devils advisor Chris tian Hoolan worked together on the change, which was made in response to students feeling overwhelmed during concert season. “We have noticed that students tend to feel intense burnout in early December, and as responsive teachers, we really want to respect our student’s time and energy,” Sauer stated. “Also, in years past, I had noticed that Blue Notes had worked really hard to finish learning their setlists on top of the burnout they already felt just days before our concert,” Sauer stated that he felt the group’s once-a-week rehearsal schedule was part of the issue. A combination of student exhaustion and insufficient practice time left students pushing themselves to the brink for the concert, and Sauer and Hoolan desired to relieve them of this pressure.
Although the groups did not perform at the Winter Concert, the students will still get to perform for an audience. Blue Notes will participate in FDR High School’s annual A Cappella Invitational on January 31. This event will include a dinner, workshop, and concert. “I am excited to perform in the A Cappella festival!” said Margaret O’Sullivan, a freshman in Blue Notes. Additionally, the Blue Notes and the Blues Devils will perform in a special Spring performance on April 24. Haldane’s talent show, originally scheduled for January 30th, has been cancelled.
“Mr. Hoolan and I have decided to give these groups their own special concert/performance opportunity in the Spring,” said Sauer. “This will not only allow enough time for our students to prepare full set lists, but it will allow us to create a performance experience that is less traditional and more attuned to the needs and wants of these non-traditional music ensembles.” According to Hoolan, one of the most positive aspects of the change is that students can play many more songs. In contrast, previously, so many participants in the Winter Concert led to a tighter limit on the number of songs allowed by each musical group. Caroline Sniffen, a senior and member of Blues Devils, commented, “We’ve only been able to play three, maybe four songs max in a concert, and now we are able to expand what we play. It becomes much more fun with so many songs to work on that all have different vibes.”
This year’s Holiday Concert featured the Haldane High School Chorus, which performed multiple songs, including “Circa Mea,” “Time,” “Earth Song,” and “Text Me Merry Christmas.” Haldane’s Jazz Band and the Wind Ensemble both also performed several pieces. Although the Blues Devils and the Blue Notes did not perform in the Holiday Concert, Sauer and Hoolan have ensured that these students have several opportunities to showcase their talent as well.
