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The KHS indoor winds kicked off their competition season with back-to-backs wins. The Sound of Silence is the KHS indoor winds’ production for the 2024 season.
“Using the Simon & Garfunkel tune of the same name, we weave the theme in and out of famous works by Beethoven, depicting the onset of his deafness,” said director Justin Ekstrom.
After winning the 2023 IPA state championship, the band staff is trying to give the students more musical and visual vocabulary to demonstrate, without losing what helped them win in the first place.
“While every performer and staff member would love to defend our state championship from last season, this year has been about growth,” Ekstrom said. “Shifting gears on a bike makes it harder to pedal, but if you push through the temporary challenge, you get to go faster. That is what these kids are doing this season – they’re pushing through a gear change. We are excited for what that can bring!”
Senior Neria Coleman plays the baritone with the indoor winds ensemble.
“Throughout the show the audience is going to be able to hear the ringing that Beethoven is experiencing. I think this will make the show way more immersive,” she said. “The contrast between the louds and quiets in the show is my favorite part.”
Senior Nolan Crawford, who plays the tuba, says his favorite part is the usage of the seventh symphony in the back end of the opener, while junior Noah Birdsong enjoys the choreography the group is using.
“I love the dance routine choreography we’re doing. Our show is about the story of Beethoven, and how he went deaf during his time composing. We do a lot of “hands-on-ears” choreography to represent his struggle. It feels good to represent a story through dance,” he said.
