Long time BFA Band Director Verne Colburn (director from 1963-1996) joined this year's BFA Holiday Concert on December 15th. At 82 Mr. Colburn still hasn't lost his touch on the piano. He led nearly 600 people in rousing renditions of "Jingle Bells" and "Deck the Halls." His performance was greeted with a standing ovation. It would also not be an exaggeration to say that there was hardly a dry eye in the house after Mr. Colburn played.
Bands 1, 2, 3, Jazz Band, String Orchestra, Vocal Soloist Emily Parent, Chorus and Chamber Singers delighted the audience with songs of the season and other selections. Highlights included improvised solos from the String Orchestra during a rousing, Spanish-influenced chart entitled "El Toro." Band 3 dug deep into the BFA music library to pull out a technically challenging collection of holiday tunes arranged by Elliot del Borgo. Chamber Singers performed the classic arrangement of "Carol of the Bells" and Mr. Messier even took a melodica solo as the chorus performed the Hannukah selection " Hanerot Halalu."
The Holiday Concert at BFA is a long-standing tradition dating back to the early days of Verne Colburn's career. It is always a delight to see community members who continue to attend this event, sometimes decades, after their children graduated from the BFA Music Program.
The photo attached is of Rusty Charpentier (Maple Run Strings) Verne Colburn, Eric Bushey (BFA Band), Hassan Chambers, Jr. (BFA Music Student) and Armand Messier (BFA Chorus).
