Inside the DeGraffenried Auditorium, the Russellville Middle School band set the stage for an evening of music and jazz on the evening of December 18. The concert was designed by band director Brian Brown to lift spirits and display the considerable talents of both jazz and concert band members. Seventh and eighth grade concert band members regaled the audience with three Christmas tunes that were unusually arranged to show off the progress this band has made so far this year. After their concert, the high school jazz ensemble performed three pieces, one of which featured freshman student Philip Clemons singing Christmas Time is Here. Although Clemons sings on a regular basis in his church’s choir, this was his singing debut at Russellville High School. Judging by the appreciative shouts and hand claps from the audience, it won’t be his last singing performance!
Another virtuoso who demonstrated his talents during the jazz ensemble’s performance was Brayden Haskins, who played a jazzy trumpet solo. He was as delighted with his performance as was the audience, who chuckled over his victory stance at the completion of the piece.
The RHS concert band followed with four selections, beginning with the much-loved Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah. Band director Brian Brown brought the evening to a close by announcing the names of students who were selected for All-District band. Students named were Sarah Fox, a freshman flutist, Brayden Haskins, a sophomore trumpet player, and Katie Hildebrand a senior contra alto clarinet player. Brown also named students who were selected to play in Western Kentucky University’s honor band. Those selected were Ashley Taylor, Ashley Edwards, Matthew White, Nikki Koller, Dylan White, Katie Hildebrand, and Amar Patel, all of whom are seniors. At the conclusion of the program, Brown thanked the entire Russellville Community for their support of the band program.
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