As students navigate the final stretch of the school year, the Wayzata High School Music Department is preparing to take the stage for their much-anticipated finales. The conclusion to yet another year in the departments tradition of excellence. These events represent a celebration of a year’s worth of growth, community, and sharing the joy of music one last time.
On May 7th and 8th, you can catch ‘Imagine’, presented by the Wayzata High School Bands. The concert will take audience members on a journey sure to spark their imagination, hence the title “Imagine.” Director Dr. Krubsack noted, “The music in the concert inspire the listeners to imagine a country hoedown, dancing with Frankenstein, out to the ball park, on a fast car ride, and into the storybooks.”
For the students and teachers, this is a chance to celebrate all of the effort and work the musicians have put into their final product. Notably, the song “The Turtle Dove” will be played for seniors, honoring their journey thus far and sending them off to whatever is next for them.
The process of selecting music is an important part of the performance and Director Dr. Krubsack has put an emphasis on the theme of “living life fully” all year long through each rehearsal and concert. Krubsack stated, “by seeking to do [this] we create a space for students that allow them to work and grow together, and that allows them to feel encouraged and safe.” He believes that the music in this upcoming concert will reflect that theme. Among the many pieces to look forward to is The First Suite in E-flat, by Gustav Holst, and a band favorite Fiesta #4.
Led by Dr. Krubsack, the Wind Ensemble is looking forward to a special performance on May 26th. Recently, the ensemble had the chance to work with composer Erika Svanoe on her piece Mary Shelley Meets Frankenstein. Dr. Svanoe helped the band refine some moments that help to tell the story of what might happen if the author of Frankenstein met and danced with a real-life form of her creation. When asked why he thought people should come to this performance, Dr. Krubsack said “The Wind Ensemble is playing at an exciting, high level. This will be entertaining and heart-warming.”
Following its long-standing tradition, The Wayzata High School Choirs will present their annual A Moment in Time concert on May 14th and 15th, a celebration that has spanned over many decades. True to its name, the concert takes the audience through various ‘moments in time’ by featuring three distinct genres: jazz, musical theatre, and pop. Featuring classic pieces such as “Summertime”, from Gershiwn’s Opera, Porgy and Bess as well as more contemporary pieces like Tears for Fears rock ballad “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.”
The repertoire is carefully selected by the directors to provide a balance of technical “rhythmic challenges” and “lyrical, expressive” ballads. Beyond the music itself, the concert serves as an emotional outlet for students. Director Mrs. Lewis O’Connor notes that while some ballads are chosen to “connect to the soul,” others are programmed simply to be fun and happy, allowing students to “shake off the stress” of the busy spring season.
The evening is anchored in community and legacy. Any graduate of the high school choir is invited to join the current singers for the closing number Good Ole Acappella. Additionally, Audience members can identify graduating seniors by the gold ribbons and medals they wear, alongside the classic “blue bow ties” that have become a fun hallmark of the event.
Ultimately, Lewis O’Connor describes the concert as the culmination of a year’s worth of learning, performed with “great pride and beauty.” It’s an invitation for the community to witness the students’ growth and leave feeling “uplifted and joyful.”
Just like the series finale of a favorite television show, the Wayzata High School Orchestra will perform its season finale on May 21st. Attendees can expect a varied program featuring pop, rock, folk, and jazz-inspired pieces, alongside classics like Bizet’s Carmen and Gershwin’s An American in Paris.
Director Mr. Gitch has noted a recent “vibe shift” in rehearsals, observing that the students are reaching their peak. “Part of how we have fun is to work really hard together with a common goal—knowing we want to get to that concert and be our best selves,” Gitch said. He described the “profound” joy that comes from collective effort, noting that the performance is a celebration of the growth students have made since the beginning of the year.
Beyond the technical skill, Gitch is excited for the audience to see how the students “inhabit the team they are on” and the pride they take in performing for one another. “I don’t think people have as many [spaces] as they deserve to be able to do that,” he noted, “but we can offer that here.”
