Saxon’s perform at Salem-Keizer’s All-City. Photo taken by Baylea Johns.
On Saturday, February 17 at South Salem High School, the high school band, orchestra and choir all-city honor groups performed. The groups contained students from all high schools throughout the Salem-Keizer school district.
All-city formed in 1994, with their first concert in 1995. This was just for the high school band, but choir, orchestra and middle school followed a year later. The band directors of Salem-Keizer formed all-city because they were not satisfied with the regionality of a similar music program, all-state.
This information was obtained from an email to Todd ZImbleman, coordinator of the all-city band.
Pieces Performed
The band performed four pieces last weekend. They played Marche Hongroise by Hector Berlioz and Yo Goto, Deciduous by Viet Cuong, Adoration by Florence Price/Williams and Un Cafecito by Dr. Dennis Llinás. The performance featured solos from all over the brass and woodwind sections. Dr. Llinás, who was also the director of the band, is Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands at the University of Oregon.
The choir sang five pieces. They sang By Night by Elaine Hagenberg, Autumn by Ola Gjeilo, Veni, Sancte Spiritus by Zanaida Robles, Apple Tree by Katerina Gimon and On My Way by Shawn Kirchner. There was also a solo from a bass singer from McKay. They were accompanied by Bethea Gliebe on piano and directed by Dr. Brian Winnie. Dr. Winnie is the director of Choral Studies at Western Illinois University.
The orchestra performed three separate pieces. They played Serenade for Strings in E Major, Op. 20, movement I-III by Edward Elgar, Suite Latinoamericana movement IV by Vinicio Meza and Shine You No More by Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen. In the concert each member of the orchestra also each did their own mini solo. The orchestra was directed by Raúl Gómez-Rojas. Gómez-Rojas is a member of the League of American Orchestras.
The performance can be viewed on Channel 22 and 322 on Feb. 28, 2024, at 3:00 p.m., March 2, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., March 3, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. and March 4, 2024, at 6:00pm.
