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Melito solo leads spring band concert
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The band hit a high note as they played "…And the Antelope Play," a complicated arrangement based rhythmically and musically around the tune of "Home on the Range."
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Boardman High School director of bands Tom Ruggieri (right) took a moment during the concert to thank the graduating seniors for their years of hard work, adding "It never gets any easier to say goodbye to a graduating class."
By SARAH FOOR
For Boardman spring concert senior soloist Matt Melito, a year’s worth of practice all came down to about five minutes.
On May 5, Melito’s alto saxophone solo was the star of the show, along with the impressive work of Boardman’s Freshman, Concert, Symphonic, and Wind Ensemble Bands.
Boardman’s spring concert signals the end of the musical school year and is the last time senior students play together on the performing arts center stage. In the band’s winter and spring concerts, a senior soloist is featured at each show.
“Only seven students try out to be a senior soloist and we bring in an outside panel of judges to decide,” explained director of bands, Tom Ruggieri. “I’ve seen Matt really blossom in the last year and a half and I know he put a great amount of work into this. He’s a very deserving soloist.”
Melito picked his solo piece a year ago and committed to practicing it about an hour every day. He received help in practicing and refining his piece with YSU music professor James Umble.
“I remember watching the senior soloist when I was a freshman and thinking, ‘I want to be there.’ The other seniors that tried out all sounded amazing and I think they deserved it just as much, so I am truly honored. I’m just excited to share what I’ve worked on for so long,” Melito shared.
The concert featured an eclectic mix of music by the Boardman bands, including the Motown favorite “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and selections from “Hairspray,” which was the school’s spring drama production.
Melito’s alto saxophone solo to “Concertante” with band accompaniment earned him a standing ovation.
During the concert, Ruggieri praised his bands, and his seniors, for their hard work.
“This is one of the hardest-working groups I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. It never gets any easier to say goodbye to any of them,” Ruggieri said.