Tag: music

Homer High School student to represent Alaska at the Grand Ole Opry House

Falcom Greear, Homer High School
Falcom Greear, Homer High School

When he was five, his music teacher inspired him. Fast forward eleven years, and Falcom Greear, now a sophomore at Homer High School, hasn’t stopped singing, and videoconferences via Skype nearly every week with his retired music teacher, who lives in Mississippi. She has been his inspiration and helped guide his love of music since he attended McNeil Canyon Elementary school in Homer, Alaska. There is a lot to talk about now, as Greear practices more than an hour a day in preparation to represent Alaska and sing during the NAfME All-National Honor Ensembles performance in Nashville, Tennessee.
Greear is working with his ensemble director, Kyle Schneider, Homer High School and Homer Middle School director of choirs, to prepare for the October 25 – 28 trip. One of three students selected from Alaska, the 673 students will perform on the world-famous Grand Ole Opry House stage, “known for creating one-of-a-kind entertainment that’s been referred to as the ‘home of American music,’” according to the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) website. The performance will take place during the 2015 NAfME National In-Service Conference.
“Selected students are currently rehearsing a challenging repertoire in preparation for performing under the baton of five of the most prominent conductors in the United States: Ann Howard Jones (Mixed Choir); Jung-Ho Pak (Symphony Orchestra); Eugene Migliaro Corporon (Concert Band); and Sherman Irby and Todd Stoll (Jazz Ensemble),” writes NAfME in a news release. “All conductors have received top honors in their field and will spend several days rehearsing with students before the concert.”
A sophomore, in his free time Falcom teaches Zumba classes, occasionally telling his students, “sing if you want to!” The Broadway musicals, All that Jazz and Chicago are his favorites, and Greear believes, “If you have a goal, go for it! Whatever you are passionate about brings you joy.”
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Treat yourself: KPBSD Winter Music Programs

Winter concerts KPBSD 2014
KPBSD Winter Music Program
Please treat yourself and attend a music concert or school play in December!

*Many of the school hyperlinks are to their school Facebook pages. Click, follow, and like to connect with your neighborhood school!
**KPBSD has a mobile app, with all school events on the calendar! Learn more, and download the app free.
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, 148 N. Binkley Street, Soldotna, Alaska 99669   907.714.8888

KPBSD elementary students perform with Kenai Peninsula Orchestra

Link Up Concert 2013 KPBSD and KPOKPBSD third through fifth grade students from Redoubt Elementary, K-Beach Elementary, Kaleidoscope School, Ninilchik, and Chapman Schools played with the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra through Link Up, a program of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute.

“One of the district’s unsung sources of pride is our elementary music programs,” said Steve Atwater, superintendent. “These concerts are a great way for the public to appreciate our music teachers’ excellent work and their students’ commitment to learning their respective instruments. The concert is also a great example of how much local support is given to the arts.”
Concerts took place Saturday, November 2, 2013, 3:00 p.m., at Kenai Central High School and Sunday, November 3, 2013, 3:00 p.m., at Homer High School.

Link Up concert 2013 with Sue Biggs

“This year, Link Up is The Orchestra Moves. The underlying theme is how music moves, how music makes you move and how the music moves through the melodies,” said Tammy Vollum-Matturro, the director and conductor of the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra. “Last year, Link Up was such a huge success for students, orchestra members, and the community. This year we were excited to include students from Redoubt, K-Beach, Kaleidoscope, Ninilchik, and Chapman schools. The students have been exploring, singing, and playing great music such as The Blue Danube by Strauss, Nocturne by Mendelssohn, and will get to hear the orchestra perform The Marriage of Figaro Overture by Mozart and Beethoven’s Fifth. During the program, the students are on stage immersed in the orchestra sitting right next to the strings, winds and percussion. The concert included host Marc Berezin who led us in an educational concert with the help of visuals and soloists,” said Vollum-Matturro.

Homer Huskies rap – Calling All Polar Bears

Homer Middle School student reports: Homer Huskies Get Into “Calling All Polar Bears”

Homer Middle School students were treated this week to a rap performance by Allison Atkootchkook Warden, titled “Calling All Polar Bears.”  Allison is an Inupiaq artist who was sponsored by The Bunnell Street Arts Center to perform for our school. Dressed in a purple kuspuk and green cap, Allison began with rap songs she had written based on her experiences from her village.

Allison’s first song talked about the changes her mother had to face growing up in Kaktovik, Alaska and being sent to the lower 48 states to be treated for tuberculosis. In her next song, she rapped about the challenges of being a polar bear. Allison, wearing her polar bear fur mittens and paper mache polar bear head, got all the middle schoolers to sing along and wonder “where did all the ice go?” Allison even got some of the Homer Middle School students dancing with her next song about caribou herds. Spencer Warren and Kenny Cortez put on some antlers and showed off their moves, prancing and bopping alongside of Allison. Her two other songs were about our ancestors, community, and love. The whole gym swayed their arms in the air to show their unity and sense of community along with Allison’s lyrics.
 I think the Homer Huskies definitely enjoyed Allison’s unique style of rapping, and we’d like to thank both Alllison Atkootchkook and the Bunnell Street Arts Center for a wonderful concert.
— Maggie Alston, seventh grade student, Homer Middle School