Outstanding Tri-Valley Concert

Music In Our Schools Concert     

                                        

  The Bernstein Theatre at the Tri-Valley Central School became engulfed in a scene from the "Age of Aquarius" March 19 during the schools music departments presentation of "Guilty Pleasures" and their Music In Our Schools Month Concert.

  The schools 9-12 chorus sang the concert ending song "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In" commonly called "The Age of Aquarius" which is a medley of two songs written for the 1967 musical, Hair, written by James Rado & Gerome Ragni (lyrics) and Galt MacDermot (music) and was released as a single by The 5th Dimension. 

  The then popular song peaked at number one for six weeks on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart in the spring of 1969. 

  The mixed choir including Director Kevin Giroux, dressed formally for an earlier presentation of "Tears In Heaven" somewhat shocked (in a pleasing manner) their concert audience as they appeared for the final concert song dressed in tie-dyed shirts and headbands emphasizing the lyrics of this song which were based on the astrological belief that the world would soon be entering the "Age of Aquarius," an age of love, light and humanity, unlike the then current "Age of Pisces."

  The Tri-Valley audience fell in love with the 9-12 chorus outstanding presentation with many remembering that this recording won both the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Group for the Grammy Awards of 1970. 

  The March 19 concert theme "Guilty Pleasures" presented music that brought back memories for many and featured the 5th and 6th grade chorus and band, the 7th and 8th grade chorus and band and the 9th through 12th grade band and chorus. 

  Kevin Giroux was the director and conductor of the chorus groups, John Calabrese directed the 5th and 6th grade band and Matthew Weyant directed the high school band. 

  Some of the featured songs by the 5/6 chorus included "Rhinestone Cowboy," and "Who Put the Bomp," by the 5/6 band "Percussion Portrait" and "B.B. Rocks On," by the 7/8 chorus "Under the Boardwalk," and "Hero," by the 7/8 band "Raiders March," and "Highlights from The Star Wars Saga," by the 9/12 band "The Best of Journey" and the "Bohemian Rhapsody."

  In the performance by the high school band of the "Bohemian Rhapsody"  the Tri-Valley Central School concert program reminded their audience that this song by the British rock band "Queen" was written by Freddie Mercury for the band's 1975 album "A Night at the Opera" and at that time it was the most expensive single every made and remains one of the most elaborate recordings in popular music today. 

  The 9-12 chorus concert closing song "Aquarius" accompanied by the tie-dyed attire and chorus animations brought a warm enthusiastic audience response.

  A job well done by the school music department.

                                                        

IDENTIFICATION OF PHOTOS

                                                            

The tie-dyed dressed Tri-Valley Central School 9-12 chorus sings "Aquarius--Let the Sunshine In" during the schools Music In Our Schools Month Concert.

                                           

Tri-Valley Central School 5-12 choral director Kevin Giroux, in formal concert dress, conducts during the schools Music In Our Schools Month Concert. He later changed to the tie-dyed attire for the choral rendition of "Aquarius."

                                              

Brandon Worden performs on the kettle drums during the Tri-Valley Central Schools 9-12 symphonic band presentations as part of the Music In Our Schools Month Concert. 

                                               

The 5th and 6th grade chorus during their presentations at the Tri-Valley Central School Music In Our Schools Month Concert. 

And several other concert photos.