Attleboro Students Hit the High Notes at Prism Concert

They banged drums, played the saxaphone and sang catchy tunes. Who were they? students who showed off their talent during the school's Prism Concert on Thursday night. Students, who performed in front of their family, friends and fellow students, were able to choose their own material and then were required to audition for a place in the show.

Students performed material such as “Hakuna Matata” from “The Lion King” and “Gonna Fly Now”, best known as the theme from “Rocky.”

Additionally, some students chose to perform original written material such as James Schultheiss, who performed an intricate drum solo for several minutes. Schultheiss also performed as part of the AHS Jazz Ensemble’s version of “Gonna Fly Now.”

Senior Robbie Lynch performed for the first time at the Prism Concert playing guitar and singing an original song titled “I’d Die for You.”

“I started writing it last week,” Lynch said.

Lynch found the experience of the concert new and different and was a little nervous before hand, but  spotting a few familiar faces in the crowd calmed his nerves.

“It was really weird performing in front of people I didn’t know. I’m used to just performing in front of people I do know,” he said.

On Friday, Lynch will participate in a battle of the bands tomorrow.

The Prism concert is a unique performance in that the acts do not have clear endings and beginnings; instead they flow from one performance to the next without stopping. This requires the audience to hold their applause until the final note of the last performer.

The school’s choral director and music teacher Gary Hyman started the Prism Concert seven years ago when he first came to Attleboro High. The concert was something he brought with him from his days at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

“The idea actually came from college and I’ve brought it to each of the schools that I’ve taught at," Hyman said. "The first year for here, the band director at the time was also a UMASS graduate."

In addition to each performance flowing into one another, another unique aspect of the concert is the location of the performers. Rather than being limited to just the stage, acts take place throughout the auditorium, along the walls, in the corners and in the aisles, with spotlights guiding the audience’s attention.

The goal of this arrangement is to create “a panorama of light and sound,” according the concert’s program.

Of course, this unique arrangement can be a challenge to bring in order.

“Its always a little chaotic, but we take care of all the little bugs during the dress rehearsals, like figuring out how to overlap songs and where everyone is going to go,” Hyman said.

The program, which last more than an hour, featured 17 total acts including solos, duos, trios and the performances of large groups such as the AHS Jazz Ensemble, the AHS Concert Band and the AHS Chorus.

The free concert didn’t pack the auditorium, but the goal was to give students an opportunity to show off their individual talents and taste.

“I think they enjoy it," Hyman said. "Honestly, the attendance isn’t always as high as we’d like it, but they certainly enjoy doing their own material."

The next scheduled performance from the AHS Music Department will be the Spring Musical taking place April 9 and 10 where they will perform “Once Upon A Mattress.”

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