October 27 The Jazz Festival

Monday Evening: I was so happy to be at Brendan's Middle School participation in the 35th Annual Craig York Vocal Jazz Festival at the Fine Arts Center tonight. I took a lot of pictures, regretfully in my usual nonprofessional way, with my phone instead of my camera. My I-phone is almost as good as my Canon, and my phone allows me to shoot in a dark auditorium without using a glaring flash. So these pictures are just going to have to do!

I arrived at about 6:20, ten minutes prior to the performance, and was able to catch a little bit of their rehearsal--here they are practicing "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" with the combined choirs and ensembles. Do you see Brendan? He is just to the right of center, above the piano. See his smiling singing face? I love it so much. I love how music just pours out of him.

THEN, it was very near to 6:30 (the start of the actual concert), and everyone exited the stage. I met up with Dylan, Kelly, and the kiddos at this point. We sat way up high in the auditorium, right in the middle of the stage. Very good seats.

There were NINE different choirs/ensembles on the program tonight. I tried to get one pictures of each group, but I'm not sure I did!

Forest Hills Northern Chorale sung a song titled: "He Beeped When He Should Have Bopped" which cracked everyone up. They also sang: "True Colors" (and I remembered almost all of the words from back in 1986!).

I think the group below is the Rockford Aces, but I'm not 100% sure. They sang a song I had never heard before: "Dulaman" I think it must be African. It was in a completely different language, and these guys sang it really well. I have no idea what it meant!

This next group might be "The Jeweltones", and they sang "Lullaby of Birdland," and "If Ever I Would Leave You" (which is the saddest song!).

This is possibly the "Northern Singers" that sang "Thousand Things" and "Over the Rainbow". Again, I'm not sure.

Here is the program ...

I think this is "Shades of Blue" from Community College. They sang "Georgia on My Mind" and "Do."

I think this group is called "Eastern Singers", and they sang "Swinging' with the Saints", and "I Got a Gal in Kalamazoo." 

And FINALLY!!!! Northern Hills Middle School! Brendan is dead center, in the 3rd row.

I had no idea Brendan had a solo part--he did GREAT singing "Hey Ba Ba Re Bop". 

Everyone clapped and cheered for all of the soloists (there were many throughout the concert); but I loved Brendan's best!

Here are all of the groups coming back on stage for the finale'. The whole group sang: "Alright, OK, You Win" as well as "Bridge Over Troubled Waters." 

All of these numbers tonight were done in the style of JAZZ. I didn't really think I was a jazz fan--but actually, I am! I love the mellow-ness of the sound and the swaying beat very much.

After the concert, we met up with Brendan in the foyer. Look at him! He is so grown up. He is as tall as his mom now. I think he is very handsome--which is neither here nor there--because his heart is so beautiful, and I love him so much.

I love these pictures!

And this little cutie ... I love her too!

Regretfully, I did not get Aidan or Callaghan in any of my pictures tonight! They were there! Aidan was the one who chose our seating for the concert. He sat very quietly throughout the almost 2-hour program. The littles did well too--except this was quite past their usual bedtimes, so they were super tired. 

I wish we could do the concert again--I really really loved it.