By Alemarie Ceria

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The MHS’ music department’s ensemble worked hard to have high performance standards by setting the pace and direction for the rest of the school year. On Sept. 28, they held a Fall Pops concert in the MHS gymnasium to showcase their talents and see where they stood performance-wise.

“I thought it was a real good concert. A lot of parents (and) alumni came and they thought it went really well. Everyone’s working hard and achieving music—which is not just notes, it’s a message,” said Fine Arts teacher Keane Ishii.

Students, such as wind ensemble member Junior Tyler Yamauchi, worked hard to inspire and help others improve within the music department. “The goal of (the) wind ensemble is to inspire those in the lower band to want to be in that group so that they will practice more, become better musicians and hopefully they will be able to bring, you know, more color to Mililani’s music program,” said Yamauchi. Their improvements and inspiration was a result of working together.

Working as a team required many rehearsals, practicing regiments, and exercising good rehearsal etiquette in order to have a better performance. “We practiced every day before the concert during school days, as well as rehearsals with the men’s ensemble on Wednesdays and a few after school together rehearsals before the actual concert,” explained men ensemble member Senior Christian Caraveo.

Fine Arts teacher Curtis Hiyane also added that practicing regiments and good rehearsal etiquette are important. “(It is important that the ensembles) go through the regiments so that we have a good performance. Hopefully when we come to (it), they understand why it’s important that we have good rehearsal etiquette throughout the year. Otherwise, we could never come to a clean performance,” said Hiyane.

With all the effort they put into preparing the pieces for each music group, the concert ended with results that pleased themselves and their audience. “I think all the groups have still, musically, much to achieve, so we’re not there yet but we’re at a good point in the year where we can strive for more excellence. I was happy with all the groups and the parents also expressed that they were pleasantly surprised,” said Hiyane.

For North Side Area Superintendent Dr. John Brummel, it was the last concert he attended as MHS’ principal. Those in the music department agreed that it was a bittersweet moment. They showed their appreciation by presenting him with gifts and dedicating the concert to him. “He was part of every single event and supported us like no other administrator could. He always went above and beyond. He’d get grants and all these things for us that he never really needed to but he felt that it was important. For us to dedicate the concert to him, we were privileged. I think we, if anything, we can’t do enough to thank him,” said Ishii. Although Brummel will not be attending concerts as principal, he will continue to come as superintendent.

The ensembles have set the bar for themselves, and their performance showed them where they’re good and where they need to improve.