What a concert!!

Wow. The boys had their final orchestra concert of this year on Thursday night. It was incredible. Levi's 6th grade group did SO well! It's just amazing how far they've come this year. Nine months ago they didn't even know how to hold their bows and now they're playing songs. And playing them very nicely. Levi did so well. And, yes, I can hear him. He's one of only two cellos and even I can pick the cellos out. His orchestra played March Oriental, March of the Metro Gnome and Country Cookin'. During this song, they all put in those Bubba teeth you see at the quick shops. Gross! And yet funny at the same time.

Then on to the 7th/8th grade orchestra. First, to retrace a bit, Lane helped the 6th graders out on one song. He "played" the drumsticks. Just whacked them together to make a clacky rhythm. I thought that was interesting as she, the director, had a couple of percussion band students there for this very purpose in later songs and yet she had Lane do it. I think it's because she's had him helping her tutor this group once a week all school year.

Then, Lane got to play a solo! And not just a bit in a song either. It was bass-ically a full-song solo. The song was Bass-ically Bluegrass. We've got three years experience in orchestra and this was the first real bass solo I've seen. That was very cool.

But wait! There's more! When Mrs. G. had Lane front-and-center for his solo, she presented him with the Director's Award. This award is for leadership and musicianship. *sniff,sniff* Mommy nearly cried. The director said that this award almost always goes to a violinist due to their natural position in the orchestra but Lane most definitely deserved it. *sniff,sniff* The 7th/8th orchestra also played an Irish Suite: Kerry Dance, Lullaby and Irish Washerwoman.

The high school did a phenomenal job as well. During Santiago, the lead violinist played an electric violin solo that was just incredible. The lights were dimmed and he had lights on his bow and fingers. And just when we thought it couldn't get any better, the lights were lowered completely and they played The Ocean - kind of a rocked-up song with a light show, ala Trans-Siberian Orchestra. You don't often see high school orchestra audiences screaming and whistling but you did that night.

What a truly amazing night for all of the kids. This is one proud orchestra mommy.