Fall band concerts

Rebekah: Veterans Day concert

Rebekah participated in her high school bands' Veterans Day concert on Thursday, November 10 at the Hillcrest Performing Arts Center. She played trombone in the combined Symphonic and Concert Band, and she played a myriad of percussion instruments with the percussion ensemble. This was Bekah's first time participating in percussion ensemble; she played chimes, guiro and vibraphone.

Playing chimes. She had a solo at the beginning of the song, which was the first one played at the concert. Our family walked in right as they were starting, so I had to be quick to get this shot.

Rebekah on guiro.

Vibraphone.

Smiling and waving after playing trombone.

Since it was a Veterans Day concert, the director asked students to submit pictures of any family members who have served or are serving in the armed forces. They had a slideshow of those pictures on the screen as the bands played one of their songs.

Grandpa Wirkus (center) on screen. He served in the Philippines and Korea during WWII.

Uncle Kent, currently serving in the Navy.

Uncle Ethan (middle) during his service in the Army.

Rebekah: All-Star Band

Rebekah was invited to participate in the University of Montana's all-star band at their campus in Missoula November 11-13. They had students from Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington and Alaska in attendance. Since it wasn't a school-sponsored trip, we drove her and another trombonist down that Friday, then spent two nights in a beautiful cabin basement apartment (found on Airbnb) with another Bonneville band student and her mom. 

Rebekah and the other high school students spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday in rehearsals, then played in a concert Saturday. They could have played with the pep band at the university's football game Saturday afternoon, but none of the BHS kids chose to. (It's dang cold in Montana in November. How are they playing football outside at that time of year?!)

Seth and I spent the days thrift shopping, walking around downtown Missoula, watching movies at the cabin and drinking hot chocolate, and attending church. The other three girls watched over each other at home and joined in watching the concert via YouTube. Thank goodness Ana got her driver's license right before we left so she could drive her sisters to church and back.

After dropping the kids off and making sure they were registered on Friday, Seth and I found some local thrift stores. We also found Hellgate High School and had to take a few pictures to send the girls.

Rebekah, Abby Huber (bassoon), and Caiden Anderson (bass trombone) eating breakfast at our Airbnb Saturday morning.

The wild turkeys that lived outside the cabin.

The guardian deer that watched over the bathroom. The five of us shared one bathroom, which isn't a problem. The problem was that the door had no lock. So the deer statue was an indicator that someone was in the bathroom. 

Rebekah's slide fell out during warm-ups during the concert on Sunday. 

Laughing about it with the other trombonists.

Playing during the concert. There were three different bands that performed: silver, gold and maroon. The kids were divided somewhat evenly so they had the instrumentation they needed for each band. Rebekah and the other BHS kids were in the maroon band, which played last. All musical selections were composed by Frank Ticheli, who came and conducted the last song for each band. This song, "An American Elegy," was my favorite of the maroon band's songs. It was written after the Columbine High School shooting.

Caiden, Abby and Rebekah posing after the concert. Rebekah tried to wear Seth's hat (the one she's wearing in this picture) during the concert, but one of the music faculty told her to take it off. 

Rebekah: Gem State

Rebekah earned first chair trombone in the regional honor band and got to rehearse and perform with them on Wednesday, November 16 at the Blackfoot Performing Arts Center. 

Miriam: 1st trimester concert

Miriam had her first band concert as an official middle schooler on Thursday, November 17 at Rocky Mountain Middle School. She played temple blocks, snare and triangle, washboard and bass drum, xylophone, snare and ride cymbal, vibraphone, xylophone and vibraslap, and vibraslap with percussion ensemble, concert band, and symphonic band. (Whew! That's a lot of instruments and bands!) 

Miriam on temple blocks.

Miriam the farmer playing the washboard while all of her percussion friends "sing" the parts of barnyard animals.