WESTFIELD-A “classic Westfield tradition” is the annual Westfield High School Pops Concert, according to band director Patrick Kennedy.
“Being our 65th anniversary, I thought it would be nice to use the anniversary gemstone as a theme – this is the Blue Sapphire,” said Kennedy.
The 65th annual Pops Concert “Blue Sapphire” will be staged March 9 and 10 at Westfield High on Montgomery Road. Doors open at 7 with the concert starting at 7:30.
Kennedy said what sets the concert apart from others is the “lavish decorations, incredible staging, professional sound and lights and the fabulous music. It is hard to believe you are in a high school gymnasium once the show starts.”
Elaborate centerpieces will grace each table at the 65th annual Pops Concert titled “Blue Sapphire” at Westfield High School. (Submitted photo)
What will also make this concert special is a Westfield High School Band Alumni Wall of Fame, according to Kennedy.
“Our Westfield High School Band Parents always do such a great job decorating and organizing most everything behind the scenes,” said Kennedy. “The Wall of Fame will hopefully show photos from every era of our 65-year Pops history.”
Alumni and friends of the high school band are encouraged to email scans of band alumni during their school days at Westfield High to Lorena Sienko at [email protected] and use a subject line of “band alumni.” Sienko is serving as pops decorating coordinator and will be creating a festive display of all of the photos received.
“My hope is to receive at least 100 photos by Feb. 23,” said Sienko, noting she can be reached at (413) 896-7504 to make arrangements to also pick up photos.
Kennedy noted the concerts will feature a wide range of music, from solo and small group in a setting called the Bomber Pride Jazz Cafe, to the Jazz Ensembles performing classic and contemporary jazz and pop.
“Our Westfield High School Band will be performing a mix of movie themes and traditional Pops style band repertoire,” said Kennedy, adding that students have been preparing for the event since its winter concert in December.
A special feature of the concerts will be a performance by the Westfield High School Alumni Band.
“This is my 21st year as director of the Westfield High School Band,” said Kennedy. “My Westfield High School band director, Tom Gannon, will be joining us to conduct the Alumni Band. I am so excited to have him with us this year.”
While alumni band members are still to be determined at press time, Kennedy noted he expects many alumni “from across the decades.”
Tickets for the concerts will be sold at the door and are $10 per person and $5 for students and seniors. To purchase a reserved table of six for $30, make a check payable to “Westfield High School” and include the date of the concert as well as a self-addressed stamped envelope and mail to Sheila Conroy, c/o Pops Tickets, 88 Barbara St., Westfield, MA 01085. Tickets for payments received after Feb. 23 will not be mailed and will be available at the will-call area the evening of the concert.
Kennedy encourages the public to attend the concerts.
“It is a great evening of music, a classic Westfield tradition, and a wonderful group of kids playing their hearts out for the people of Westfield and the surrounding communities,” said Kennedy.
