By Cristian Zacharias, Aquinas Reporter
Dr Polett introducing the college band – Photo by Cristian Zacharias
Aquinas College hosted a concert at 7:30 p.m. on Halloween night for the first time in the program’s history, with a majority of band members playing in costume.
Chamber strings, jazz band, and the college band all played selected music pieces to fit the holiday. Conductor Joseph Oprea and chamber strings started the night with Music from Psycho by Bernard Hermann. Dr Thomas Polett, with the Aquinas college band, then conducted two pieces: The Complete Harry Potter (excerpts) by John Williams and Suite From “Symphony Fantastique” movements II. March to the Scaffold and III. A Witches’ Sabbath by Hector Berlioz.
Conductor Joseph Oprea opening the night with chamber strings – Photo by Cristian Zacharias
After an intermission, the jazz ensemble was then led and conducted by Dr Polett to close the night out strong with four pieces, most notably a punny piece titled Which Craft? by Tom Kubis. “Round Midnight by Thelonious Monk, The Gremlin’s Revenge by Dean Sorenson followed, with Brian Culberson’s Long Night Out closing the concert.
Being on Halloween, the students and their directors all were encouraged to wear costumes. This is a stark difference to the traditional concert black dresscode the Aquinas community is used to. With this change, a few members of the band agreed that the change in appearance did affect how people performed, but did not affect the overall performance as a collective.
The jazz ensemble performing “The Gremlin’s Revenge” – Photo by Cristian Zacharias
Aiden Tellez, junior and member of both the jazz and college band, said, “the costumes made it feel more casual, which influenced our playing in a way. The playing was more casual than if we were in concert black.”
Brennan McKinney, senior and member of both the jazz and college bands, though the concert went very well. “It was a lot more fun than the more formal concerts we have,”McKinney said. “It helped everyone loosen a bit.” McKinney dressed up as a cow because everyone knows that cows love jazz. “When I put on the cow costume, the jazz is just enhanced.” Some spectators claimed McKinney was ‘milking the performance,’ to which he agreed, “oh I milked it alright.”
Dr Polett walking on stage – Photo by Cristian Zacharias
Logan Licence, junior of the jazz and college bands, said, “I honestly think [wearing costumes] might have hindered [us] a little bit because we’re not dressed up.” The players were more relaxed, and he continued by saying that them being relaxed might have negatively affected their performance.
Spectators were also encouraged to wear their own costumes to the event, and quite a few did.
Overall, the band members enjoyed their performances and were happy to wear costumes.
The Saint 