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Students get creative at band camp concert
7/19/2008 1:15 AM   0 comment(s) on this story E-mail this story to a friend



By ROB NOVIT

Senior writer

Kendall Driscoll admitted the jazz concert music seemed pretty difficult last Monday - the first day of an Aiken County summer band camp.

Not only did the Aiken High School student and her bandmates get through it at the concert Thursday to warm applause, Kendall also contributed a solo on one of the selections.

"We worked through it," she said. "I'm definitely going to be in a jazz band at school. (The camp) has been a lot of fun, and it's neat to play with people from other schools. We get to be good friends. It's so cool."

The camp was the second of two sessions open to all band students in grades 7-9.

Ryan Westberry, the new Aiken High band director, led the jazz band with "Chili Pepper 101," "What a Wonderful World" and "Chameleon." Schofield Middle School band director Stephanie Bartholomew worked with concert band on "Latin Fire," "My Favorite Things" and "On Broadway." Euphonium player William Winans also provided a solo.

Kimberly Woods, the Leavelle McCampbell Middle School director, joined four percussion students and administrative assistant Jessica Bessett on "30 Gallon Groove" playing on small plastic containers.

"It's fun to do something out of the ordinary," said Woods. "The kids love it, and it's a real crowd-pleaser."

Bartholomew said she enjoys watching the students progress in just four days.

"This group exceeded expectations," she said. "They really got into it, and I'm so proud of them. This never gets old."

Both band groups combined for the finale, a medley from the film "Lilo and Stitch," music from Elvis Presley.

Parents and other family members were delighted with the performances, among them Pat and Bob Machulis, parents of Kami, a flutist and saxophonist. After completing middle school at Aiken Middle, Kami is excited about following Westberry to Aiken High.

"He's a phenomenal teacher and teaches them well," Bob Machulis said. "Band is so important to Kami. She had three solos this summer - two at the first camp and one at Gateway."

Other band camp participants included Natalie Broderick, Brittany Hartley, Rebecca Skolnick, Alex Hightower, Daniel Berry, Alex Christiano, Amanda Bowden, Victor Frontroth, Michael Rogers, Rickey Samonson, Caitlin Thurmond, Keanu Masuda, Cody Clary, Brandon Muniz, Larry Lamb, Seth Thomas, Brody Harper, Seth McHood, Wayne Preston, Mallory Berley, Michaela Grooms, Heather Jones, Jennifer Moxley, Julia Parkman, Emily Parkman, Kaitlynn Autery, Caroline Burnau, Anna Mink, Tatiana Price, Chelsea Clune, Kayla Harllee, Cameron Lenarz, Logan Murray, Jewel Eckmyre, Mike Hicks, Michael Pallon, Dara Timmerman and Jeremy Woodruff.

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.





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