The Grosse Pointe Band hosted its annual Band-O-Rama concert on Dec. 18. The concert featured several band ensembles including the Grosse Pointe South Marching Band, Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Pierce and Brownell fifth and sixth grade ensembles. John Forbes ’25 is a saxophonist who has played in this concert every year since fifth grade.
“Band-O-Rama is a very fun concert that we all play in, we’re able to play fun pieces of music that we can’t play at our festival concerts or competitions,” Forbes said. “Seeing new instrumentalists come in from fifth grade and other ensembles is always fun to witness, this has always been one of my favorite concerts to play in.”
Band-O-Rama features the Marching Band and Jazz Band in their annual concert. Both groups played a variety of different pieces with the Marching Band, paying tributes to both Elton John and Billy Joel by playing several of their hits including “I’m Still Standing”, “Your Song”, and “We Didn’t Start the Fire”. Zaria Gentile ’27 is a new Marching band member this year from Colour Guard.
“It’s been a wonderful year for the Marching Band and performing for Grosse Pointe South,” Gentile said. “It’s always fun to perform with the Marching Band and attend all of our football games. I enjoyed listening to every ensemble and the premier of the fifth grade band ensembles.”
Pierce and Brownell implemented 5th grade into their school Band & Orchestra as the grade has been moved from the elementary schools into the middle schools. Previously Paul Miller has taught fifth graders in both band and orchestra for many years, and since his retirement last year, Band Director Christopher Takis has instructed the groups for their upcoming concert.
“I’m really proud of what we’ve been able to do this year, this year was my first year working with the fifth grade ensembles since the retirement of Paul Miller,” Takis said. “For many parents, it is an emotional concert as everyone in the school system plays this concert for the first time or for the last time at some point, and watching your child grow old and play every year is a heartwarming experience.”
