It was busy with everybody doing their last minute preparations. Bob Quinn was tuning his trombone behind the curtain. People were finding their seats. Marla Ray started the show on time by introducing all four High school students, Audrey Sipler, Abriana Blanton, Grace Finke, and Everett Works as this Variety Show was to support their musical trip to Europe.
Marla said, "No one wants to volunteer to go first. So, I will." She sang a song called "There's a Place at the Table for Me" a song she wrote about the feast in Luke 14: 23 "Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.'" She sang "I got my invite to Calvary.... Although I'm not worthy."
When Audrey Sipler introduced her song, "Giga" from Handel's Sonata in F Major, she ended with "Ya". She smiled and laughed a little and everyone laughed with her. I loved to hear classical music played on the stage in Big Sandy Montana.
Abriana Blanton sang "Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop". She came out with her ukulele and sang a solo. This song was a perfect choice for her to sing.
Grace Finke told everyone that this year is her first year of piano lessons so it was her first piano recital. As she played "Swanee River", I was excited to see her stretching herself and learning something new, and at the same time teaching all of us, it's ok to be a beginner in learning something creative. She taught us we don't need to be advance in our talent to share.
Everett Works sang "Snuff" by Slipknot. It first appeared on the music scene in August 2008 and was originally a hard rock song, but Everett sang it to a taped accompaniment. Everett told me he chose the song because he wanted a song where he could express his own emotions while singing.
There were 24 acts including three Audrey Sipler's grade school dance groups. Harley La Buda performed a piano solo that she wrote called "Free Mind". Elanina Weaver performed "It's Raining, it's Pouring" on a recorder. Kindergartener Gabby Cox sang "Yankee Doodle Dandy". Bailey Gasvoda played "The Storm" on the piano a song where you could actually hear the thunder rolling through the song. And then the Sun came out and you can hear the storm in the distance before it rolls in again and before the winds stop and the drops of rain slow down.
The rest of the program was adults sharing their music abilities Nick Fry playing "Amazing Grace" on the harmonica. A duet from Adam and Teal Poole signing and singing "Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord". Maria Mallary sang "God Help the Outcasts from Phantom of the Opera. A Gospel Quartet of Rich Jespersen, Marla Ray, Fred Finke, and Larry Brumwell singing "It Is Well with My Soul". Matthew Camp sang a medley of "Danny Boy/ You
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Raise Me Up". Bob Quinn played his trombone sharing three short songs "Andante, Abide with Me, and Bill Bailey". Larry Brumwell sang "Snoopy Versus the Red Baron" and Rich Jespersen Sang the "Wrestler".
Audrey and Abriana played a ukulele duet with Abriana singing "Sunflower" and Grace sang a duet with her father Fred "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing", a memory she should have forever! Lastly, we all sang together "This Land Is Your Land"
Can't wait to hear the impact of their trip.
