Konnichiwa and sayonara, Hanasaki
“It was mind-blowing,” says junior Joey Chua, echoing the awed sentiments of many students who saw the Hanasaki wind orchestra perform at Aragon. Chua continues, “Hanasaki gave me one of the greatest gifts ever in their performance.”
On Wednesday, November 23, Japanese students from Hanasaki Tokuharu High School stirred up roaring applause from their captivated audience during a special concert in the Aragon Memorial Theater. Hanasaki’s third and final performance during their stay, the concert featured the Aragon wind ensemble and the award-winning Hanasaki wind orchestra in a musical exchange.
Aragon’s wind ensemble performed their set concert pieces for the Hanasaki musicians first. Band director Troy Davis says, “Although [the wind ensemble] felt a little intimidated by the high level of musicianship of [Hanasaki], they held their own and performed their music with lots of heart.”
The Hanasaki students displayed remarkable musical versatility, playing pieces that ranged from the classical “En Famille” to the American classic “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You”. The latter featured a flutist, Hanasaki alumni Yuri Noboritate, who was joined in her performance by conductor and fellow flutist Tomoko Kawaguchi.
Kawaguchi says, “Aragon is a very warm school, and it was nice to play in front of such kind students and teachers.”
The Hanasaki band featured their clarinet sextet and brass octet in their rendition of the classical “En Famille” and “A Londoner in New York.” Chua says, “When they played ‘A Londoner in New York,’ I could feel the air the trombones were blowing through.”
Another highlight of the students’ performance was their use of traditional Japanese instruments, such as colorful drums in their rendition of “Kokyou (Home Town).” One student alternated between playing a modern and wooden flute.
The most memorable moment of the concert was Hanasaki’s rendition of “Sing Sing Sing,” in which all the musicians stood up and danced along to the fast-paced swing classic. Chua says, “They maintained a powerful and expressive sound while dancing. I even saw the bass player spin her bass and lift it over her head.”
During a personal highlight of the concert, Davis conducted the Hanasaki students in their encore piece, “The Stars and Stripes Forever”. Regarding what felt like to conduct the students, Davis says, “[It was] like driving a Ferrari.”
Yet at its core level, the Hanasaki Wind Orchestra is still a club of students who love music. Hanasaki tenor saxophonist Chie Soutome says, “[Unlike] America, we Japanese students can only choose one club activity during the school year, so we need to consider what…we like the most.”
Nevertheless, the Hanasaki students’ choices to commit hours a day to wind orchestra were easy. Junior Brianna Kim, who had hosted Soutume and student Miki Okayasu, says, “One thing is clear. They really love music.”
Awed by Hanasaki’s incredible performance, many Aragon students have set higher goals for themselves in their music. Chua says, “Seeing other students my age play at that level showed me that a good sound was never out of my reach…I just need to work towards it.”
Davis, who spearheaded organization of the concert and home-stays, says, “My students were enriched culturally and musically in a way that you can’t really describe in words.”
International tours are nothing new to Hanasaki. However, Coordinator Aki Murakami says, “[This tour] is special because of the homestay with Aragon students. Many students said they were looking forward to the homestay the most. It’s their form of [paying back] the host family to show their appreciation.”
Hanasaki student Miki Okayasu, who plays the horn, says, “[The homestay] was fun. Because everyone cared so much, I felt special.”
Not only did Hanasaki’s visit profoundly affect students, it inspired many teachers at Aragon. Davis says, “We were able to create memories and experiences that will last a lifetime.” Over a week after the concert, Chua says, “I still have ‘A Londoner in New York’ stuck in my head. And I’m happy it is.”
