Madison Southern High School Concert Aย
Sometimes itโs good to have a little bit of โoff the wallโ fun by letting music guide yourself into a strange world of rhythm and dopamine. At least, thatโs what John, a senior marimba player from Madison Southern High Schoolโs Scholastic Concert A unit said after their energetic performance this past weekend: โ[This show has] time signature changesโฆ throughout all of it,โ which are there, as senior electric guitarist Hiram adds, โโฆto be fun [and show] change and progress,โ a theme keeping in line with the showโs name โI Can Changeโ and chosen song โGame of Nillโ by Mexican Slum Rats.ย
It only makes sense this would be their showโs concept, as much has changed for the small unit: this is their first time performing together in two years. Kayleen, a vibraphonist and fellow senior who has been performing for seven years, comments, โFor, like, two years we havenโt really been around each otherโฆ just this group, so itโs fun to play [together again].โ Hiram, who has been strumming since he was a sophomore, adds, โItโs just like the last chance Iโll get to perform with a bunch of people. Itโs nice to get back out there.โ After five years performing, John shares their sentiment: โItโs just fun playing [together]โฆ. Itโs been a couple years since Iโve done that.โย
Hiram (left) Kayleen (center) John (right) Photos by Bailey Griffin, TMA Media
As they look towards the remaining TMA season, in love with the peopleโs reactions and their showโs nearly open-ended concept, they can not wait to, โIn the theme of the show, just [see] the changesโฆ [and] how crazy it can get,โ as Hiram says. Kayleen adds that she wants to โSee how it goesโฆ [and meet] a bunch of new people,โ while John plans to โโฆprogress on the show andโฆ do a lot of things with it.โย
Paul Laurence Dunbar HS – JV
Crafting a performanceโa faceโfor others to be enthralled by and gawk at is one of the key joys that comes with any performance, but especially Paul Laurence Dunbarโs Junior Varsity show, In Their Natural Hopitat. As junior Amir, who has been performing for two years, says, โItโs the face [performance]โฆ thatโs my favorite part.โ Sophomore Rachel adds that in all of her 3 years performing, not only has she loved watching other shows, but also experiencing the unchanging atmosphere of support which comes packaged with every competition: โWhen you walk down a hall, theyโll be like, โOh, you look so good! Good luck!โ and you didnโt even have to do anything.โ Another sophomore, Taryn, shares the same thought after two years: โI like the people. The vibe here is very bright.โย
Amir (left) Rachel (center) Taryn (right) Photos by Bailey Griffin, TMA Media
Dunbarโs show is also very bright and a fun exploration of natureโs quiet intensity that Rachel says, โ[Is] very easy to get into character withโฆ, because itโs not terribly hard to figure out what you’re doing: youโre a frog. You put a smile on your face and hop aroundโฆ itโs really fun.โ It has an energy unmatched and a joyfulness that radiates from every performer equally as Taryn adds, โI like the fact that all the energy that comes from every single performer [is felt].โ Standing in the audience, she is right: that game-day exhilaration at every rifle toss and flag feature is really felt.
Looking forward, these three view the remaining season as a chance for their show to grow into something even more animated. Amir says that he can not wait to โ[try] new things, like more new tosses.โ Taryn adds, โ[Iโm most excited for] getting the whole show out and then just watching everybody be even more excited about it than they already are.โ Rachel can not wait to โ[get] the rest of the show down,โ but also, in a very Tri-State way, is equally excited to โwatch the other shows as they progress. Thatโs one of my favorite parts: to see how much a guard can grow from their first competition to championships,โ and we know, at Tri-State, that the growth of PLDโs JV will be exponential and can not wait to enjoy it, too.
Madison Central HS – Varsity
Dramatic, chaotic, constantly changing, while beautifully engaging are the only adjectives I can give to the home unitโs varsity show, The Piano That Plays. It is a story of musicโs enthrallment. Kamryn, a senior who has been performing for four years, loves the narration and its engagement with the crowd: โMy favorite part is definitely performing and being able to tell a story. I like impacting people, and I think itโs really fun to get their reactions.โ Kaydee, another senior who has been performing alongside Kamryn for four years, is glad to see the support from everyone to new-comers and graduates: โI love meeting all the new people that come through the program and [seeing] all the support from everyone inside the program.โย
Yet, this love is bittersweet, for it is impossible to stay in such a supportive and simultaneously competitive environment for ever. As Kamryn positively recollects, realizing the short time she will have left with Madison Central, โMy show means a lot to me because this is my senior year, and Iโm very proud of how much work Iโve put into it. Iโm very proud of the show Iโm ending on.โ Kaydee makes a similar comment: โI think that this show that we have this year is a lot different from our past shows. I feel like weโre doing things that we never thought we could do and going places we never thought we could go, and itโs just nice to see all the growth weโve had throughout the years.โย
Kaydee (left) Kamryn (right) Photos by Bailey Griffin, TMA Media
It seems like the season is ready for Madison Central as they put more time into their show and perfect it slowly. Kamryn says, โIโm really excited to perform our final show and be able to put just an amazing end product out into the world,โ and we, at Tri-State Marching Arts, are excited to see it. Keep it up and thank you for hosting!
by Landon Ashcraft, TMA Media
Landon Ashcraft is a high school senior
from Florence, Kentucky, who loves to
spend his time writing, reading, making
music, and exploring nature.
