May 11, 2026
The Ethel Holden Brownstone Center for the Arts at 91福利 came alive with a dynamic blend of popular hits, jazz standards, and instrumental selections as students delivered their final performances of the year. The Symphonic Band concert took place on Tuesday, April 14; JazzCats held their concert on Tuesday, April 21; and Spring Pops was Thursday, April 23.
SYMPHONIC BAND
Under the direction of Director of Bands and Instructor of Music Michael Bass and Instructor of Music/Assistant Band Director Jerry Pickering, the Symphonic Band performed a variety of instrumental pieces. Selected pieces included 鈥楩lorentiner Marsch鈥� by Julius Fucik, 鈥楪roovee鈥� by Richard Saucedo, 鈥楾angents Angular鈥� by Roand Barrett, 鈥楤lack is the Color鈥� arranged by Robert Sheldon, 鈥楽unbloom鈥� by Gavin Lendt, 鈥楢lbanian Dance鈥� by Shelley Hanson, 鈥楳aynard Madness鈥� arranged by Victor Lopez, and 鈥楢mericans We鈥� by Henry Fillmore.
Assistant Band Director/Woodwind Instructor Dr. Ben Burge played an alto saxophone solo on 鈥淧ersuasion鈥� by Sammy Nestico.
Lyric DelCambre is a sophomore at The River and a member of the PRCC Singers. Previously, she was in Currents. She attended the concert with several vocal group members to support the other fine arts students.
鈥淚 have friends in the band, so I like to come out and see them,鈥� said DelCambre. 鈥淚 really liked 鈥楶ersuasion鈥� with Dr. Burge on the saxophone. It felt fluid and very relaxing.鈥�
鈥淭his has been a wonderful year with the Symphonic Band,鈥� said Bass. 鈥淭hey have worked extremely hard to prepare two great concerts this semester, one for the band clinic we had in February, and the end-of-year concert. They have put in many hours of preparation, and it paid off in fantastic concerts.鈥�
Teresa Grantham drove from Spring County to see her son Kameren perform on tuba.
鈥淭he students did so well with the performance,鈥� said Grantham. 鈥淭he concert was really good.鈥�
JAZZCATS
PRCC鈥檚 jazz band, under the direction of Bass and Assistant Band Director/Instructor of Music/Brownstone Technical Director Dr. Andrew Gilstrap, delighted the audience with an eclectic selection for the evening. Under the onstage direction of Bass, students poured themselves into the catchy tunes.
Selections for the evening included 鈥楽atin Doll鈥� arranged by Mark Taylor, 鈥楶ast My Bedtime鈥� by Terry White, 鈥楪reasy Sack Blues鈥� arranged by Paul Murtha, 鈥楲atin Attitude鈥� by Rick Stitzel, 鈥業n Walked Bud鈥� arranged by Craig Vonberg, 鈥業t鈥檚 Only a Paper Moon鈥� arranged by Rick Stitzel, 鈥楴o Harm / No Fowl鈥� by Kris Berg, 鈥楳ercy, Mercy, Mercy鈥� arranged by Dallas Burke, and 鈥楢nother Zydobeto鈥� arranged by Paul Baker.
Soloists for the evening included Hope Bass, Brandon Dufrene, Ethan Glynn, Kelton Jones, Bryson Malpass, Jacob Nguyen, Leterris Page, Tyler Palavicini, Frank Peterson, Brandon Smith, and Andrew Sones.
鈥淭his year with the JazzCats has been full of rehearsals and performances, from the Christmas show in November and doing run-out concerts at high schools to the end-of-year concert,鈥� said Bass. 鈥淭hey have been diligent about rehearsing and preparing for these performances. It’s been a pleasure to have them in the group this year, and I look forward to next year.鈥�
Summer Jacobsen of Poplarville attended with her husband and her son, who plays saxophone in the Poplarville High School band. She particularly enjoyed the final selection, 鈥楢nother Zydobeto鈥� from the evening set.
鈥淲e enjoy hearing the music here and being entertained,” said Jacobsen. 鈥淭he music is always good. The band never disappoints. The musicians were very talented, but I really enjoyed all the solos.鈥�
SPRING POPS
PRCC Singers is an auditioned choral ensemble that includes all members of The Voices, Currents, and Rapids. They opened the Spring Pops concert with musical selections including 鈥楶aint It Black鈥� by Jagger and Richards with Amanda Verret as soloist, 鈥楪ravity/Rocket Man鈥� by Barreilees and John with Caroline Gunn as soloist, and 鈥楢in鈥檛 It Fun鈥� by Williams and York with Lucy Spiers as soloist.
Currents, an advanced treble ensemble, performed 鈥業 Love You, Always Forever鈥� originally by Betty Who with Blair Pounds as soloist, 鈥楬old My Hand鈥� originally by Lady Gaga with Grace Hester as soloist, 鈥楲ove So Soft鈥� by originally by Kelly Clarkson with Marleigh Williams as soloist, 鈥楳an I Need鈥� by Olivia Dean with Rio Dufrene as soloist, 鈥業ris鈥� originally by the Goo Goo Dolls with Riley Smith as soloist, and 鈥淪weet Dreams鈥� originally by Annie Lennox with Hester as soloist.
The Voices performed 鈥楧ancing in the Dark鈥� originally by Bruce Springsteen with Kadee Parks as soloist, 鈥楩ree Fallin鈥� originally by Tom Petty with Tynesha Sibley as soloist, 鈥榃hatcha Want鈥� originally by Lawrence with Chloe Albert and C.J. Jones as soloists, 鈥楽leep originally by Allen Stone with Kassidy Robinson as soloist, 鈥楻un to You鈥� originally by Whitney Houston with Tynesha Sibley and ale Moeller as soloists, and 鈥楴o Sleep鈥� originally by Phillip Lassiter with Jones as soloist.
Alexander Hall of Lumberton is a freshman at The River who came with friends to experience the last concert of the school year. He had been invited by his classmate, Jones, a member of The Voices, to attend.
鈥淚 thought it was pretty great,鈥� said Evans. 鈥淥ne of my favorite parts was when one of the guys was singing the Tennessee Waltz. Another part that I really liked was when the Currents were singing and they put their mic down and they sang in the harmony together.鈥�
For the latest news on 91福利, visit PRCC.edu and follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter (), Instagram (), Facebook (),and TikTok ().
Article by Laura O’Neill. Photography by Laura O’Neill and Patrick Peerboom.
