Musical medley highlights H-M-S winter concert

A medley from the well-known musical "Les Miserables" was the centerpiece of the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School late winter concert on Feb. 27.

"Les Miserables" (meaning "the miserable ones") is a musical adaptation of the French novel by Victor Hugo that criticizes how society treats members of the lower social classes. According to the program notes, "The show is about courage, love, passions and resilience of the human spirit." The French musical adaptation premiered in Paris in 1980 and then the Broadway production opened March 12, 1987 and ran until May 18, 2003. It is still today one of the world's most beloved stories.

The medley performed by the choir included the following selections and soloists: "At the End of the Day," Ashlynn Struve and Bryanca Holtz; "I Dreamed a Dream," Holtz; "Castle on a Cloud," Kinsey Schirmer; "Do You Hear the People Sing?", Bryce Dodge and Dawson Niichel; "On My Own," Juliana Pasillas; "Bring Him Home," Emma Schmillen and Moises Gonzalez; and "Finale," Jordan Lux, Lillian Van Loon and Niichel.

Senior music students will be attending a performance of "Les Miserables" at the Orpheum Theatre in Omaha, Neb. on March 12.

Several soloists for "Les Miserables" were also featured during the jazz choir's set. "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?" featured Dodge, Natalie McDaniel and Jamie Diaz; Gonzalez and Diaz were soloists for "My Funny Valentine"; and soloists for "Royals" were Pasillas and Holtz.

Instrumentalists also had an opportunity to showcase their talents. The jazz band performed "Tater-Patch" featuring Owen Haspels on alto saxophone, "Georgia on My Mind," and "Una Mas" featuring Aiden Nitzel on trumpet and Haspels.

The concert band's selections were "The Simpsons," "More Cowbell!" which featured Brennan Stoltz on cowbell, and "I Just Can't Wait to be King."