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Musical spectrum enjoyed by all

As the sun started to set last Wednesday the singers began to set up for a magical night of music at the President’s Annual Musical Spectrum. The Music Department put on quite a show for the audience in attendance.
McCoy Ransom was the master of ceremony and kept everything in order. Under the direction of Ye Tao, the Grambling State University Symphony Orchestra kicked off the show with a selection from Reinhold Gliere “The Russian Sailors Dance” followed by “Experts” from Prince Igor by Alexandra Borodin.

Next, they put on a show by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart by performing Clarinet Concerto in A Major. “From a Orchestrial point of view I think we did the best and hope we impressed Dr. Pogue, ’cause this is Gram and this is what we do,” said Stanely Harris a member of Orchestra.

As the intimate audience =listened to the orchestra it gave enough time for the band director Larry Pannell to get ready for his performance on the clarinet.
Playing the selection “The Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Philip Sousa, Pannell set the tone for the next performance given by the Grambling State University Symphonic Band.
Made up with mostly all wind instruments, the Symphonic Band blew the audience away.
“The Chimes of Liberty” by Edward Franko Goldman followed.

Shortly after the GSU Choir showed off their talents by warming up with the selection Psalm 150 and followed by a solo from Sopranoist Kendra West.
Shouting how “I Got Plenty of Nuttin” from Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin with a solo by LaDank Boley, Bass-Baritonist the choir pleased the crowd as the ended with a “Poor Man Lazarus.”
Last but not least the Grambling State University Jazz/Show band who performed for the first time together in 2010 at the Spectrum brought the audience together with the hit “Just the Two of Us” by Ralph MacDonald.

“The Jazz and Show bands of all was beautiful,” said guest Tyrell Lewis who traveled from out of town just to hear the show.

Now “Can we Forget Joy?” a piece by Larry Pannell who played with much emotion in every note dedicated the show to the memory of his wife: Mrs. Mary L. Pannell (9/11/52-11/04/08).

To wrap things up under the direction of Leroy Hawthrone Jd, and Pannell the Jazz/Show Band put on their best with a collection on “The Best of Earth, Wind, & Fire then crowd exited as “Pick Up the Pieces” by Staurt, Gorric, Ball, McIntosh, McIntyre and Duncun was played.