Students end year on high note

Portales Municipal Schools band students are joining forces for a light-hearted concert Tuesday night.

Bands from Lindsey Elementary School, Portales Junior High School and Portales High School are set to play at the second annual All Bands “Pops” Concert.

“Out of this concert, I really hope (students) get the fun side of playing music,” said district band director Jennifer Johnson.

All year, she said, they push for contests, but the All Bands concert is fun with no competition at the end.

She said the tunes would be light and recap what students had worked on throughout the year. The concert is the only time all three bands, which each play separately, meet and the only time Lindsey’s band showcases its efforts.

Johnson said having all three bands in one concert is a way to give back to the community for its support and have the district’s approximately 235 band students perform for each other, their parents and the community.

“It just seems like a good way to finish off the year,” she said.

Timothy Brooks, a PHS senior who began band in sixth grade after starting French horn lessons a year earlier, said the concert was exciting, especially for younger band members, as listeners can hear the progression as students spend more time in band.

“I think it’s pretty cool,” he said.

Seven-year band member Savannah Salas, a junior at PHS, said the concert aimed to let band members have fun and to show everyone else that they should support the program next year.

“All my friends are in band, and it’s a good way to have leadership and learn to be in a group and stay dedicated to something bigger than your everyday life,” Salas said of participating in the activity.

Brooks called the band experience indescribable.

“Making music with other people, it’s one of those things that connects with the soul like nothing else,” he said.