The Denmark High School Band performed with the 132D Army Band Brass Quintet for our Veterans Day Assembly. The quintet played many pieces by themselves, and the band and quintet together played “Amber Waves of Grain” and “Salute to America’s Finest”. Amber Waves of Grain is a rendition of the popular Veterans Day song “America the Beautiful” and Salute to America’s Finest is a song representing every military branch's official song. The band spent many weeks practicing these songs as individual concert and symphonic bands. We practiced the music as one combined band just a day before the performance during a 32 minute class period. What a great performance for all the practice the band put into it! The assembly itself included many performances from both the band and choir, and individual performances from the brass quintet. It also featured a guest speaker talking about his service in the military and his experiences serving in Europe. Towards the end of the ceremony, awards were given out to 2 students for writing an essay for the patriots pen essay contest. The first place winner got 100 dollars and a certificate and the second place winner got 50 dollars and a certificate. The assembly wrapped up with a moment of silence for all fallen soldiers and the playing of taps by a member of the brass quintet. After the assembly, SSG Ben Warmuth, a trumpet player from the brass quintet stayed around to give lessons to some trumpet players in the high school band. One student, Alex Fredrickson, who was part of the lesson stated, “In our trumpet lesson with SSG Warmuth, he talked about not only how we could improve as trumpet players, but he also talked about what it was like to be in the Army and to be a band teacher”. SSG Warmuth also stayed around during both band classes to let kids ask questions and to play some of the winter concert music with them. Thank you to everyone who took strides to make our assembly happen and thank you to all active service members and veterans for your great sacrifices for our country! |
