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Students sing campfire tunes
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.One of the second-grade students performed a solo to "Black Bird," while music teacher, Dean Wilson, played the guitar.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.The second-grade students at Union Elementary sang "Rockin' Robin" during their Gone Campin' concert on May 16 at Poland Seminary High School.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.There was a fake fire the Union Elementary students used as a prop for one of their songs to fit into the Gone Campin' concert theme on May 16.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Poland Seminary High School "Big Dogs" joined the Union Elementary "Little Dogs" on stage to sing a final song during their performance on May 16.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.The second-grade students at Union Elementary gave music instructor, Dean Wilson, a hanging basket of flowers as a way of saying "thank you" for everything he has done to help.
By ALEXIS BARTOLOMUCCI
Union Elementary’s second-grade students performed a Gone Campin’ concert for their friends and families on May 16 at Poland Seminary High School.
Dean Wilson, Poland’s elementary school music teacher, has been preparing the students for their concert after Christmas break. Wilson took songs from his favorite musicals to create what he called a “Frankenstein” musical performance.
The students arrived at the performance dressed in clothes they would go camping in. The stage was decorated with props like tents, a fake campfire, backpacks and more.
Audience involvement was needed during one part of the performance. Everyone made noises with their hands and feet at different times to make it sound like a storm had come and gone.
Several students had solos throughout the show. The students who performed a solo were chosen by Wilson, but they also had to want to have a solo to be considered. Many of the students who have a solo are usually the ones who go on to be soloists in middle and high school.
“I’m listening for students who can match pitches and for students who have the kind of confidence and presence that they want to sing in a microphone in front of a crowd. We had a lot of them,” said Wilson.
Many of the guests walked up to Wilson after the show to thank him and tell him how well the show turned out. Parents talked about how their children were excited for the concert and have been preparing at home for it.
As the students performed the last song, the “big dogs” from PSHS made their way to the stage to sing with the “little dogs.”
When the concert was over, Union principal Mike Masucci and some of the students brought a basket of flowers to give to Wilson as a “thank you” for everything he had done for the students and the school.
“This is my 41st year in music education. I’m still here because I love working with children and I love to make music. And what a blessing it’s been to enjoying that combination for all these years,” said Wilson.