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CVMS band students perform concert
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Seven Canfield Village Middle School fifth-grade French horn players were featured at the CVMS fifth- and sixth-grade annual spring concert at the Canfield High School on May 16. The musicians played “Polly Wolly Doodle.”
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Youngstown State University student teacher Matthew Ohlin conducted the Canfield Village Middle School fifth-grade band at the annual spring concert at the Canfield High School on May 16.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Canfield Village Middle School Band Director James Volenik (far left) thanked friends and family as the sixth-grade band took a bow at the close of the school’s annual spring concert on May 16.
By ABBY SLANKER
The Canfield Village Middle School fifth- and sixth-grade bands presented their annual spring concert at the Canfield High School on May 16. The bands were under the direction of CVMS Band Director James Volenik and Youngstown State University Student Teacher Matthew Ohlin.
Volenik welcomed the large audience of family and friends to the concert.
“Good evening families and friends and welcome to our annual fifth- and sixth-grade spring concert. We are going to start with the fifth-graders tonight. It’s hard to believe that only seven months ago, these students could barely even play a note, and now they are playing seven pretty complicated songs for fifth grade. They have truly improved through the year. And to the parents, thank you for your encouragement of them, and thank you for the private lessons you provided, which helped keep them motivated,” Volenik said.
With Ohlin conducting, the fifth-grade band opened the concert with “Theme and Variations on Hot Cross Buns” arranged by Peter Blair, and continued with “Aunt Rhodie Pays a Visit” arranged by Peter Blair.
With Volenik back in front of the band, they performed “Theme and Variations on Lightly Row” arranged by Peter Blair, followed by “The Caisson Song” arranged by Peter Blair.
Volenik then introduced the seven French horn players, who performed “Polly Wolly Doodle.”
“Many high school bands don’t have seven French horn players, let alone middle school bands. We are lucky to have these seven students interested in the French horn,” Volenik said.
The fifth-grade band continued their performance with “Power Rock” arranged by Peter Blair and “Ode to Joy” from “Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony” arranged by Peter Blair.
The students then closed their portion of the concert with “Shortin’ Bread” arranged by Peter Blair.
Volenik took the stage to introduce the sixth-grade band.
“Our sixth-grade students are truly playing above a sixth-grade level. They have learned how to play together as a band, which is difficult to accomplish because they only play together once a week. They do a fantastic job. They listen well to each other. We hope you enjoy our sixth-grade band,” Volenik said.
The band opened with “Bryce Canyon Overture” by Mark Williams and moved into “Honor Roll March” by Mark Williams. The students then performed “Baywood Overture” by James Swearingen.
“We’d like to bring Mr. Ohlin back out to conduct our sixth-graders in closing the concert with the state rock song of Ohio - ‘Hang on Sloopy’,” Volenick said.
Ohlin led the band in a performance of “Hang on Sloopy,” arranged by John Edmondson.