~ Excellence in the Malden Public Schools ~

Malden High School Band brings the Holiday Spirit with their Winter 2025 Concert

Something for everyone: rock, pop, ensemble creations and ‘old-school’ holiday favorites

 

By Steve Freker

 

The holiday season was welcomed to Malden High School in fine fashion by the Malden High School Band on Thursday, December 11, when MHS Music Director Lauren Foley and her crew delivered a fantastic performance with the Winter 2025 Instrumental Music Concert at the Jenkins Auditorium. As the holidays usually bring “something for everyone,” so did the MHS Band, whose musical offerings ran the gamut from rock music to pop music, classical, European and back to good, old-fashioned Christmas and other holiday tunes. A large crowd was on hand for the performance, held in the venerable, historic Jenkins Auditorium at Malden High, and both the students who participated and those in attendance were excited and pleased by the show.

“We have such wonderfully talented students here at Malden High School and it really shows this time of year with our Winter Concerts,” said Malden High School ninth-year Principal Chris Mastrangelo. “Ms. Foley does a tremendous job with our Band and we applaud her and all of the members for their tremendous performance, just in time for the holidays.”

The concert started with various performances by Foley’s small ensembles class: individual groups of about four to five musicians performing two songs each. The groups included Frostbite, which performed “Rise & Shine” by The Cardigans and “Enough for You” by Wisp.

—Another small ensemble, Jar, performed “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” by The Beatles (with MHS special accompanists Josep Galindo Gaviria on guitar and Nico Sedan on bass) and “See You Again” by Tyler the Creator (with MHS special accompanist Sean Cochran on drums).

—The ensemble Rin and Enqi performed “Paper Bag” by Fiona Apple.

—The ensemble Razorblade Romance performed “Join Me in Death” by HIM and “All They Wanted” by Panchiko.

—The ensemble Tinnitus performed “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd and “All of Me” by Michael Bublé.

The Concert Band followed with a Christmas-themed compilation selection, “Holiday Wish (A Christmas Fanfare) by Randall Standridge. The Concert Band is composed of mostly introductory band members.

The popular performance group Bald Ensemble delivered a rendition of “A Rollicking Hanukkah” by Randall Standridge. The MHS Band’s Wind Ensemble performed two holiday pieces, the first, “Snow on Snow” by Megan Vinther. The finale was a spirited rendition, “A Christmas Festival” by Leroy Anderson and Robert W. Smith, a compilation of well-known and little-known holiday favorites. The Wind Ensemble, a smaller, more experienced group, mostly comprised of upper-class students, was joined by Director Foley, who performed both songs on the oboe.

Just before the last song was performed, Band Director Foley addressed the audience. “We would like to thank all who attended tonight to see and hear our talented performers,” Foley said. “A special Thank You goes to all of our seniors who performed in their final Winter Concert tonight.”

During the finale, Director Foley invited all of her senior MHS Band members to take a turn as conductor of the final rendition. At the conclusion of the evening, Student Conductor Matt Jason Chan made a special presentation of celebratory flowers to Ms. Foley on behalf of the band, in appreciation of all of her efforts and commitment this year.

 

 

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MALDEN HIGH SCHOOL CONCERT BAND

Flute: Melissa Souza.

Clarinet: Sabrina Banks, Ernest Chen, Roman Orti, Ivan Zhu.

Alto Saxophone: John Goncalves de Matos, Isabella Portillo.

Tenor Saxophone: Rylee Rimpos.

Baritone Saxophone: Samuel Andrade Alves de Souza.

Trumpet: Anzar Azhar, Danny Ortega Bol, Finnbar Saunders.

Baritone: Gabbie Sanchez Martinez.

Trombone: Alexander Arruda-Ciulla, Jeremy Lara-Himenez.

Tuba: Richard McGovern.

Percussion: Lucas Allan, Rafif Elsokary, Aiko McGovern, Simon Nyoike, Yusuf Saldi, John Santos Aranda, Ada Zhang.

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MALDEN HIGH SCHOOL WIND ENSEMBLE

Flute: Anniyah Azhar.

Clarinet: Dagny Boswell (Student Leader), Sarah Miller.

Bass Clarinet: Grayson Herrera (Student Leader).

Alto Saxophone: Jacob Fuentes (Student Leader), Raphael Sanchez Martinez.

French Horn: Raphael Sanchez Martinez.

Baritone Saxophone: Kenneth Diaz Osorio.

Trumpet: Dennis Liu.

Trombone: Lincoln Boswell (Student Leader).

Tuba: Christopher Arruda-Ciulla.

Percussion: David de la Cruz, Phi Gold (Student Leader), Richard McGovern (Student Leader).

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BALD ENSEMBLE

Flute: Prahlad Karthik, Jimmy Lei, Kenny Wong.

Clarinet: Ernest Chen, Roman Ortiz, John Tran, Ivan Zhu.

Alto Saxophone: Raphael Sanchez Martinez.

Trumpet: Anzar Azher, Dennis Liu.

Trombone: Alexander Arruda-Ciulla, Richard McGovern.

Tuba: Christopher Arruda-Ciulla.

Percussion: Aryan Adhikari, Kaylana Dearborn, Kenny Diaz Osorio, Alex Drinkwater, Aiko McGovern, Andrew Souders.

Conductor: Matt Jason Chan.

***

FROSTBITE

Guitar: Joseph Galindo Gaiviria, Nicholas Li.

Guitar & Bass: Atticus Smith.

Vocals & Bass: Sorin Mamouzette.

Drums: Sean Cochran.

Vocals: Harmonie Ortiz, Imyrah Occius.

***

JAR

Guitar & Vocals: Amanda Souza.

Drums & Piano: Raphael Sanchez Martinez.

Vocals: Jason Dutaille.

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  RIN & ENQI

Piano: Enqi Chen.

Vocals: Rin Clough.

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RAZORBLADE ROMANCE

Guitar: Thayse Borges, Sofia Leno.

Bass: Surena Etienne.

Piano: Enqi Chen.

Drums: Liliana Lin.

Vocals: Rin Clough.

***

TINNITUS

Guitar: Alexander Cioffi, Kieran Saunders.

Bass: Nico Sedan.

Piano & Vocals: Daniel Flores.

Drums: Diego Mejia.