Nanuet HS Concert Will Highlight Different Band Sections

The arts is an integral part to a student's education. Showcasing the arts is also important as it boosts confidence and provides valuable performing experience.

Nanuet High School will hold its second “Prism” concert Wednesday, tonight at 8 p.m. The event is a way for different sections of the school’s band to shine.

“It kind of goes on the premise that in science class, a prism is a device that separates light into its different spectrums,” explained Walter Miller, one of the  band directors. “So a prism concert separates the band into its different components. It features not only the concert band, but the jazz band, some chamber ensembles, and some student soloists.”

The concert will feature each instrumental family of the band, including flutes, clarinets, brass, and percussion, among others.

“The thing that’s really unique about it is that the music is continuous,” Miller said. “So there’s no breaks for applauses, no breaks for transitions or students’ movements. So as one piece ends another begins, and even before that time you have students moving to different seating areas set up throughout the auditorium, so it’s really a unique event.”

There will also be three senior soloists who have some strong credentials. All three participated in the NYSSMA solo musical festival last year and received a grade of either 99 or 100, Miller said. He also noted that one of the three also was accepted into the New York State Band Directors’ Association Honor Band, and another was an alternate selection for this Honor Band.

The first Prism Concert at NHS was held two years ago. However it likely won’t be an every-year event because of all the work that has to go into the logistics, like setting everything up properly before the event. Also, Miller noted that it is best to have the concert every couple of years in order to keep it fresh and unique.

In the end Miller hopes for a show where the audience can both have fun and learn about some of the varieties in music.

“We’d like the students to have a successful performance. We want the audience to enjoy themselves and also really get to see all the different instrumental sounds and colors and textures. We hope that we can communicate that to our audience.”