A truly amazing concert!

Friday evening, at the end of the U Mass Multiband Concert, I turned to Katie and Savanna and said, "In my almost 90 years on this planet, I don't think I've ever experienced anything quite like that!" It was true. i was referring specifically to the marching band segment, which ended the program. Why was it unique? Because the band is HUGE, it is LOUD, and at the end it was UP CLOSE in a unique way: i.e., it was virtually in our laps! It started on stage - how many? Not sure. Let's say hundreds! I took this photo discreetly because we were told, "No Photography!"

This doesn't show the whole stage, but it gives an idea how they were packed in. After playing several numbers, so loudly that Ellen and Katie plugged their esrs with their fingers, everyone in the band except the large percussion section left the stage. We thought they were just going offstage so that percussion could be a solo ensemble, which is what happened at first. But suddenly, those band members showed up all over the auditorium and moved right into all the rows and stood in front of people! We had three-four trumpeters right in front of us. And there they played "I Did It My Way." Loudly! Our bodies vibrated! It was pretty amazing.

Trumpeters in front of us in our row.****************** Here are more photos of the hall:

This concert is an annual event and features several ensembles ranging from a vocal jazz octet with a small combo accompanying them, up through larger ensembles (like an all-trombone one), up to a full symphonic orchestra. Here is the program:

The program makes clear how many groups performed. It moved along snappily because they divided stage and orchestra pit into four distinct areas and while one group was performing, another would be setting up out of sight, and be ready to play as soon as the other group finished. It had a lot of variety; all done well. The Marching Band set up during an intermission. Quite a show!