Student musicians rock with Mayhem

Photo by: Geoffrey Hauschild

Photo

Tenth grader, Alec Higham, plays the electric violin during Project Mayhem's practice at Boardman High School Monday afternoon.

Photo by: Geoffrey Hauschild

Photo

Twelfth grader, Alvin Lu, plays the lead electric violin during Project Mayhem's practice at Boardman High School Monday afternoon

By Denise Dick

BOARDMAN — It’s not your father’s orchestra.

The 35 members of Boardman High School’s rock orchestra Project Mayhem perform classics from the likes of Bon Jovi, Ozzy Osbourne, Queen and the Dave Matthews Band as multicolored lights and swirling shapes dance across a screen.

The group will perform in concert at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the school’s Boardman Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $5 at the door.

“We have freshmen through seniors,” said instructor Bill Amendol, who. along with Michele Vari, directs the orchestra.

This marks Project Mayhem’s third year, and students must audition to join.

“We hope to give people exposure to a different type of orchestra,” Amendol said.

Seniors Alvin Lu, 17, and Kayleigh Eddy, 18, electric violinists; Mark Modarelli, 18, a drummer; and Adam DeAscentis, 18, a bass player, are charter rock orchestra members, while this marks the first year with the group for sophomore Kristi Yazvac, 16. Kristi plays acoustic violin.

All of the musicians play in the school’s symphonic or chamber orchestras or band.

“It’s so much louder,” Kristi said of the difference between Project Mayhem and the other groups. “You get to have fun with your friends.”

It’s just a different style and different type of music than what the young musicians get to play in the traditional groups, Kayleigh added.

It’s also a different rehearsal schedule, Adam explained, as the rock group practices after school and regular orchestra is a scheduled class.

“It’s more laid-back,” Mark added.

Alvin listed the Queen hit “Bohemian Rhapsody” as his favorite on Wednesday night’s play list.

Both Kayleigh and Kristi named “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” a piece that highlights the string section, as their favorite.

Vocalist Tim Welsh, a junior at the school, lends his pipes to that selection.

Senior Angela Burnett, 18, provides audio technician services for the show with help from junior Dan Butchko, 16.

Angela also plays violin in the symphony and chamber orchestras.

“They asked me if I would be interested in doing the technical aspects of it this year,” Angela said.

She’s enjoying the work, adding that Dan does a good job of diagnosing and fixing sound problems.

Angela lends the musical expertise to the work, ensuring that various sections come through to the audience they way they’re intended.

“I love this,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun.”