By WESLIE STRATTON
Moapa Valley Progress
The Moapa Valley High School strings and choir departments performed their final spring concert on May 19 with the theme “Night At The Movies.” Directed by substitute teacher Jacqulyn Pray, various individuals and groups took turns showcasing talent practiced throughout the year.
First performing was Phina Romero whom Pray described as an amazing violinist of nine years study on the instrument. Pray said that Romero has been a member of the Las Vegas Youth Orchestra for five years, part of the honors orchestra for four years and part of All State Orchestra which she said is “the best of the best.”
Romero wants to be a music performance major and has received the highest string orchestra scholarship to CSN.
She performed “Czardas” by V. Monti beautifully using expert vibrato and flawless confidence.
The beginning guitar group performed “La Bergamasa” arranged by Wooderson.
This was followed by a violin duet performed by Liliana Briceno and Kimberly Graffam. Pray introduced the two and said that Briceno has been playing the violin for seven years. She is a member of the Las Vegas Youth Orchestra, has received superior ratings at Solo Ensemble and plays in the Southern Nevada Symphonic Orchestra. She plans to attend CSN this fall. Graffam has also been playing violin for seven years, is a member of the Las Vegas Youth Orchestra and has received superior ratings at the CCSD Solo Ensemble. She performs in various talent shows and church functions and plans to attend Dixie State University this fall.
Accompanied by Mitzi Bender, Briceno and Graffam performed “Concerto in A Minor” by Antonio Vivaldi. The duet required a strong listening ear as the two played sections in unison and several measures of individual parts that beautifully complemented one another.
As described by the evenings emcees, an “elite set of students” performed “Hallelujah” written by Leonard Cohen. “Disney Movie Magic” arranged by Mac Huff followed and was performed by the choir.
The Disney compilation was made up of various song verses from the Disney movies of Cinderella, The Lion King, 101 Dalmatians, Toy Story, The Little Mermaid and more. Each song was highlighted by duets or solos of students dressed in costume.
Next was the performance of “Clapping Music” composed by Steven Reich and performed by orchestra members Trenton Robison and Marshall Potts.
Pray introduced the duo and said that Robison has been a violinist for 10 years, plays honors orchestra and performs for the Tuacahn Summer Arts Institute. He plans to earn a degree in performance and composition at Dixie State University.
Potts plays cello and bass and plans to major in either music or engineering following his service as an LDS missionary.
Robison explained that the piece they performed was written in 1972 by a minimalist composer who used “small amounts of material to work with.” In this case, it was simply hands that made up the instruments used. The two used clapping rhythms that Robison said made up “random and really cool rhythm patterns that you don’t really expect.” The piece required an excellent sense of rhythm and timing that kept audience members riveted.
Next up was what Pray described as a surprise number that was not on the program. A group of four guitarists and five ukuleles performed “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.”
Concluding the event was the orchestra’s performance of “I Dreamed a Dream” arranged by James Kazik and directed by Pray. This was followed by “Molly on the Shore” arranged by Sandra Dachow and “Pirates of the Caribbean” arranged by Ted Ricketts, both directed by Robison.
