Exercising the wisdom they gained during their half a dozen years in Cleveland elementary, the sixth graders realized that, if the spring elementary concert progressed in its usual grade order, with the oldest group the last act on stage, their opening number wouldn’t make a ton of sense.
It was a greeting song.
“I give them a lot of freedom to choose their own spring concert songs because it is my last concert with them,” explained director Lacee Johnson. “They picked this really cool, traditional African welcome piece. But they said ‘hmm…Mrs. Johnson, how do we welcome people to the concert if we’re the last one?’”
So, Johnson, always receptive to her students’ suggestions, flipped the act order around, and the packed new gym on May 15 was greeted with 50 sixth graders singing “Funga Alafia,” complete with an ensemble of xylophones and African drums accompanying them (above).
Welcome. Greetings.
Funga alafia, ashay, ashay.
Funga alafia, ashay, ashay.
We've come to greet you, ashay, ashay.
The song featured four students on “djembes,” West African rope-tuned goblet-shaped drums that can generate three distinct sounds, and one student playing a “shekere,” a percussion instrument made from a dried, hollowed gourd wrapped in a woven net of beads. Johnson used donations from the winter concert to purchase them.
The sixth graders followed the rousing welcome with John Denver’s sentimental hit “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” featuring soloists Breanna Bosse and Adli Hoisington, before concluding with the up-tempo soul song, “Happy,” the top tune of 2014.
Next on stage, the first and second graders’ theme was summertime fun. They opened to the essential “Mr. Sun,” followed with “Swimmin’,” an ode to swimming, and closed with the uplifting “Do You Wanna Go Outside and Play?” featuring soloist Emelia Marchan-Ellefson.
Next up, the fifth graders’ theme was mostly reggae with a little country mixed in. They opened with Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds,” followed with “Jamaica Farewell” and closed with Luke Combs’ “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma,” which featured soloists Dawson Maxfield and Hunter Olson.
For the kindergartens, next to take the stage, the theme was silly songs. They led off with “I Know a Chicken,” followed with “Poor Little Bug on the Wall” and closed with the nonsensical but catchy “Skinnamarink,” which originated in the 1910 Broadway musical, “The Echo.”
Skinnamarink e-dink, e-dink,
Skinnamarink e-doo,
I love you.
From there, Clipper Rising Voices, a select choir of third through fifth graders, took the stage. They performed the 2007 indie-pop song “1,2,3,4” and “First Responders,” a piece written to honor the sacrifice, courage and compassion displayed by first responders. For CRV, it was specifically a tribute to the brave men and women of the Cleveland Fire and Rescue Department.
You deny your own safety
For the sake of us all
When you rush into danger’s path.
Guardian angels, worthy of honor
You're the first in our hearts.
Next, focusing on rock and pop hits, the third and fourth grades took the stage, starting with 110 recorders strong played between stanzas of “Eye of the Tiger.” They followed with “Never Ending Story,” which featured soloists Hazel Hunt and Aubrey McAlister, and closed the concert with Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock ‘N Roll.”
One of Erik Hermanson’s jazz bands, which included sophomores, freshmen and a seventh grader, performed before and after the concert and between sets.
Sixth graders
Sixth graders
Sixth graders
Sixth graders
Sixth graders
Sixth graders
Sixth graders
Sixth graders
Sixth graders
Sixth graders
Sixth graders
Sixth graders
Sixth graders
First and second graders
First and second graders
First and second graders
First and second graders
First and second graders
First and second graders
First and second graders
First and second graders
First and second graders
First and second graders
First and second graders
First and second graders
First and second graders
First and second graders
First and second graders
First and second graders
First and second graders
First and second graders
Fifth graders
Fifth graders
Fifth graders
Fifth graders
Fifth graders
Fifth graders
Fifth graders
Fifth graders
Fifth graders
Fifth graders
Fifth graders
Fifth graders
Fifth graders
Fifth graders
Fifth graders
Fifth graders
Fifth graders
Kindergarteners
Kindergarteners
Kindergarteners
Kindergarteners
Kindergarteners
Kindergarteners
Kindergarteners
Kindergarteners
Clipper Rising Voices
Third and fourth graders
Third and fourth graders
Third and fourth graders
Third and fourth graders
Third and fourth graders
Third and fourth graders
Third and fourth graders
Third and fourth graders
Third and fourth graders
Third and fourth graders
Third and fourth graders
Third and fourth graders
Third and fourth graders
Third and fourth graders
Third and fourth graders
Third and fourth graders
Third and fourth graders
Third and fourth graders
Third and fourth graders
Third and fourth graders
Third and fourth graders
Third and fourth graders
Third and fourth graders
Third and fourth graders
Third and fourth graders
As usual for an elementary concert, the gym was packed.
One of Erik Hermanson’s jazz bands performed before and after the concert and between sets. Here, Cecelia Gair, August Keltgen, Kayla Hoffmann and Owen Lloyd step up for solos.
Director Erik Hermanson with Elijah Johnson and Gavin Marks.
Saxophonists Aiden Giese, Gavin Marks, Aubrey Blaschko, Cecelia Gair, Garrett Heldberg and Ethan Hoehn.
Clara Hilfer and Zander Hoechst
Cassidy Otto and Kayla Hoffman up front, August Keltgen, Austin Anderley, Owen Lloyd, Zander Linder, Kiya Sohn and Ava Kluntz in the middle, and Ben Traxler and Jakob Hollerich in back on percussion.
On display in the back of the gym were student ceramic projects from Bre Roberts’ electuary art classes.
Ceramic projects
Also on display were science and engineering projects from Kim Germcheid’s elementary STEM class.
STEM projects
STEM projects