Shelly Holbrook, news@greenepublishing.com
On Monday, April 25, at 6:30 p.m., the Madison Creative Arts Academy (MCAA) Music Department hosted their annual Spring Concert at Lee First Baptist Church. The concert featured performances by the MCAA Concert Band, Symphonic Band and Jazz Band. The Concert Band performed three pieces: “Wildwood Variations,” “A Celtic Celebration” and “Star Wars Theme Song.” The Jazz Band performed two songs: “I'll Be There” and “In The Mood,” which featured the Madison County High School (MCHS) Jazz Ensemble. The Symphonic Band performed three pieces: “Discovery Overture,” “Crazy Train” and “Celtic Air and Dance.”
MCAA Director of Bands, Dillard's Polikarpov, reflected on the concert and the school year overall and shared, “I am extremely proud of my sixth-grade students who had little-to-no musical experience prior to entering sixth-grade band class in August. They did everything I asked of them and grew so much over the last year. I'm extremely proud of the seventh and eighth-grade band as well, for the effort they put into their performances. Congratulations and a job well done to the Band Captain, Lauri Thigpen, who served as an excellent leader for our ensemble and did an amazing job as a student conductor.” Polikarpov, or Mr. P as his students call him, went on to share that he was extremely honored to have his music-teaching mentors, Jay Hicks and Sandy Dorsey, present for the Spring Concert. Also in attendance were fellow music educators Danny Artiga (Madison County High School Band Director) and Chuck Edwards (Madison County Central School Band Director). Eight students were recognized and awarded for their hard work and improvement throughout the school year within the music department at MCAA. Recipients include: Sixth-grade Most Improved, Bryan Contreras; Sixth-grade Most Outstanding, Olivia Thompson; Seventh-grade Most Improved, Xin Zheng; Seventh-grade Most Outstanding, Mark Uphold; Eighth-grade Most Improved, Jamescia Hills; Eighth-grade Most Outstanding, Leah Mask; Band Captain Recognition, Lauri Thigpen and Musician of the Year, Layla Peavy.