The bass drums boomed and the brass shimmered as all the band players in Wayland assembled for their annual festival. BandFest, as the aficionados affectionately name it, was held last Tuesday night, March 10th, in the newly-renovated field house.

This event features every Wayland concert band, from the newly-minted fourth graders to this year’s amalgam of high school bands, performing a piece for the rest of the group and for parents. Directors Ms. Keenan, Ms. Muffitt and our own Mr. Oneschuk presided over the evening’s performances, including the smashing finale: “American Patrol” played en masse.

The high school’s performance of an arrangement of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” soundtrack featured student conductor Alison von Rohr. Von Rohr has been studying conducting with Mr. O for four years.

The music itself was a success, and the length of the concert (clocking in at around forty five minutes) pleased even the most restless fourth grader. The new field house was an ideal location for the event, and most parents were able to get those all important pictures.

The next Wayland High School band concert will be on April 16th at 7:30 in the Little Theater.