Band Director Michael Szczasny and guest soloist Kirk Garrison.
The KSD 140 Concert and Symphonic Band held their spring concert on Wednesday, May 1st at Prairie View and it did not disappoint!
The highlight of the evening was the Symphonic Band's special guest trumpet soloist, Kirk Garrison. Mr. Garrison is a professional trumpet player who has performed all over the world with everyone from Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga to, most notably, the Lt. Dan Band featuring actor Gary Sinise. The Symphonic Band provided a beautiful accompaniment to Mr. Garrison's lyrical and bluesy rendition of Alfred Reed's "Ode for Trumpet". The real fireworks came in the finale when Garrison blew the roof off of the gym with Maynard Ferguson's rendition of Gospel John. His sheer power and command of the upper register thrilled the audience and the band did their job by laying down a powerful groove that brought the crowd to it's feet with a huge standing ovation.
"We are so lucky to have a man of Kirk's stature come to play with our students,” stated Band Director Michael Szczasny, who has performed with Garrison on numerous occasions.
“Most pros are reticent to perform with middle school students, but when he heard our kids play, he told me, ‘I'm in. These kids sound great!'”
“It will be a performance our students will always remember."