Panida hosting spring concerts
SANDPOINT — The Panida Theater will dress as a grand music hall this Thursday as the Sandpoint High School bands take the stage under the baton of Band Director Aaron Gordon. The school's five ensembles -- concert, symphonic, two jazz bands and a steel pan band -- will serenade classmates, parents, friends and the community with popular selections from the silver screen, starting at 7 p.m.
All in all, 95 SHS students currently participate in the band program that Gordon has sculpted during his 10 years on the job. About 18 of that number are seniors this year, so the concert will double as their swan songs. Many of them will continue playing music in college, and some will focus on music studies, according to Gordon.
Contrary to the school's overall enrollment numbers, which have gone down since his first years at SHS, he said that the number of students in the band program is larger than ever.
"We bucked the trend. We have stabilized now," he said.
He attributes the band program's growth to a successful program and to the fact that playing in the band is fun.
"The biggest thing kids find fun is good music. We’ve traveled to places in Colorado and several times to Seattle," Gordon said. "Band is also a social event. It's a group thing, and they all succeed together."
In March, concert and symphonic band members competed in the North Idaho College Large Group Competition, and both received "superior" ratings from the judges. Those scores put them in the top echelon of high school bands in the region, said Gordon.
His Jazz One ensemble is by audition only, and the 20 participants practice every weekday morning at 7 a.m.
"It's pretty competitive to get in. They have to be dedicated to make those early practices," said Gordon, who added that the symphonic ensemble is also by audition only.
The audience at Thursday's concert will get to hear jazz solos by senior band members, and the steel pan band will provide a change of pace. Participants include percussion players from the other bands as well as instrumentalists. They play Trinidad-style music.
Gordon believes that over the years, the bands have developed a mature, signature sound that gets noticed by other music professionals. Next year, he plans to continue honing that distinctive style as well as keep the program fun for the students. He would also like to take the band into the community more often.
"We are always looking to do more community events and get more community support. In Sandpoint, with so many artistic events going on, it's easy to take them for granted," said Gordon. "We hope the community will continue to support the band program by attending concerts and through the school."
The steel pan ensemble will play the Sandpoint Farmer's Market June 1. The SHS band concert is slated for May 26, and the SHS choir will perform at the Panida Theater the following Thursday, June 2.
Community groups interested in booking a band appearance for the 2016-2017 school year should contact Aaron Gordon, aaron.gordon@lposd.org.