SUPERIOR – Last Tuesday, before an audience of over 100 people, the Superior High School Music Department held its annual benefit concert and dinner to raise money for the program.

The concert featured students from all grades of junior high and high school. The first part of the show filled the high school’s all-purpose room with the voices of the choir singers performing a selection of songs. In the second half, the band took the stage for their own performance.

According to Amber Winter, music teacher for the Superior schools, most of the songs selected for this year’s concert were decided around the end of the last school year. Winter said the kids began preparing for the concert early in the school year.

“[We’ve been working] since the end of August,” she said.

The evening started with dinner. Food was provided by Becky Newman and consisted of an appetizer, salad, a main course and dessert. The appetizers were a selection of meats, cheeses, sliced fruit and vegetables. Diners had their choice of a dinner salad, with a selection of dressings, or an Italian pasta salad. The main course was a perfectly baked sweet or russet potato and pot roast which was falling apart and juicy. Finally, dessert was cookies and cupcakes frosted to look like ghosts and pumpkins.

As the last few people were getting their plates, the night’s entertainment began. The kids came out and took their position on a series of risers. Everyone wore white shirts and black pants with some sporting blue ties.

Each group performed four pieces. The choir, accompanied by Nancy Wilson on piano, sang California Dreamin’, by John Phillips, The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls, by Jerry Estes, the version of Hallelujah from the movie Shrek, by Leonard Cohen, and Africa, by Toto. For their final song, the choir was joined by a few members of the band for percussion accompaniment.

After a brief 10-minute intermission, during which dessert was served, the entire band took the stage for their numbers. The band played Green Day’s 21 Guns, Bridge Over Troubled Waters, by Paul Simon, Georgia on my Mind, by Hoagy Carmichael, and Sweet Caroline, by Neil Diamond.

Both performances were conducted by Winter.

During the performances, Winter also announced three of her band members had received a very special honor. The University of Montana is setting up an all-star band of 150 kids from among five states and some members were chosen from Superior High School. Sophomores Johnathan Buchanan and Mary Donally along with senior Jarrod Tippens, Jr. will perform a concert in Missoula on November 17 at 2 p.m. in the Dennison Theater.

According to Winter, the group will also receive several uniquely amazing opportunities. The students will get to perform during the pre-game show for a UM Grizzly game. They will also attend a Masterclass taught by professional trumpet player Rex Richardson. Finally, they will get to attend a Jazz concert at the Dennison Theater.

Winter said she is very proud of these three along with the entire band and choir. She described the evening’s performances as great and said they worked hard to bring a big improvement on previous years.

“The improvement that I’ve seen, just from last year to this year is incredible in all groups,” Winter said.

Upcoming concerts by the Superior High Music Department include holiday concerts for the elementary and high school on December 9 and December 16, respectively. There will also be a District Music Festival on April 11 and 12 followed by a spring concert on May 12.