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Photo by John Wagner

Photo by John Wagner

For one afternoon, the Hunter Elementary School gym was transformed into a concert venue. A 25-piece orchestra complete with members from the 9th Army Band and Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra performed, but the real stars of the concert were Linda Mason’s fourth-grade musicians.

The concert was the product of the students’ two years of practice on recorders, a woodwind instrument similar to flutes and clarinets. After learning the basics in third grade, the kids moved on to reading music and learning more complex songs the next year.

The concert was based on the Carnegie Hall LinkUP program that connects a local orchestra with an Internet link up to a professional orchestra for a concert. But Mason said the ability to play with a live orchestra made the Hunter concert special.

Mason said it was important for everyone performing to be dressed in formal performance attire to look as much like a real concert as possible. The boys in the Hunter Elementary Recorder Ensemble wore red ties and matching cummerbunds while the girls wore all white with blue sashes around their waists.

“It changes their perception of musicianship,” Mason said of the impact it has on the children.

The recorder ensemble started the concert by playing “When the Saints Go Marchin’ In,” “Amazing Grace” and “Ode to Joy” before being joined by the orchestra and vocalists.

For its first three pieces, the recorder ensemble not only filled the large gym with music, but some of the members also conquered public speaking fears by introducing the pieces to an audience comprised of family members and schoolmates.

After the concert, Mason couldn’t contain how proud she was of her students.

“You were just unbelievably wonderful,” she told them.

And unlike many professional concerts, everyone was treated to cake and punch after the performance.

The concert’s success was not a small feat considering that all of the groups involved — the ensemble, Army Band, percussionists from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, West Valley High School Chamber Orchestra and vocalists — had their first joint rehearsal 40 minutes before the performance.

“I’m so happy it gives me goosebumps,” Mason said after the concert.

Michele Jeglum, who directs the orchestra program at West Valley and Hunter, said getting all of the different groups together was difficult but the outcome was worth the effort.

“It was definitely a communal effort,” Jeglum said.

The efforts were appreciated by the Hunter students and teachers who attended.

It was also greatly enjoyed by the family members who came. Elise Moore-Howard said her son, Gabriel, was very excited for the concert and has been practicing at home in preparation.

“The whole program was really great. The kids played well with the orchestra and the 9th Army Band,” Moore-Howard said.