Grandview students tour, perform in Ireland

Sites, competition and fun

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

ey marched down cobblestone streets, sang and played instruments in stained-glass cathedrals and recited Shakespeare on the grounds of a historical castle. Students from Grandview High School Performing Arts performed at historical sites as they traveled across Ireland.

Around 200 students and sta landed in Dublin, sorted out luggage and instruments and loaded onto buses to head to their rst destination in mid-March.

On the way to the city of Cork, students and sta were welcomed to the Rock of Cashel with a bright rainbow overlooking the green pasture.

Cork, Ireland

As the rst bus made it to Cork, the seniors changed into nice clothing and went to city hall to meet the Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork and city dignitaries. e remaining students and sta were taken through a quick tour of the city where they walked through the famous English Market.

After two days, the group was set to perform on St. Patrick’s Day.

At the Roman Catholic Church St. Mary and St. Anne, three Grandview choirs brought 81 voices together to perform powerful pieces, one being “ e Gift Be Simple/Shenandoah” by David Zimmerman.

While the choir was nishing their performance, the marching band began to warm up for e Cork St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival.

e sound of drums and horns blasting “Hey Look Ma’ I made It” by Panic! At e Disco through the small streets of Cork grabbed the attention of the public. People from di erent countries came by to take pictures and videos of the marching band, color guard and baton twirler.

A news anchor and cameraman from TV 3 Ireland, Virgin Media Television came to spotlight the marching band. With the band playing “I Want You Back” by e Jackson 5, the color guard and baton twirler performed their routine as a sta member of the band was interviewed.

e marching band even went viral on Tik Tok.

When the parade nished, the orchestra was on their way to city hall to perform at a reception for the Lord Mayor of Cork.

“ ere were all these dignitaries from Cork that had come from the parade to hear this speech by the Mayor and some local music groups were also performing there,” said Orchestra Director Mindi Loewen.

ous pieces, including “American Landscape” by Soon Hee Newbold, “America’s Cup” by Alan Silva and a “La La Land” melody.

“It wasn’t like we were background music, it was more like we were the show and they were so kind and attentive and supportive. And it was really quite a spectacular event for the students to get to do,” said Loewen.

Before leaving Cork, the groups had the chance to walk around and experience Blarney Castle and Gardens, where many students lined up to kiss the Blarney Stone.

On the way to the next city, there was a stop at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park in County Clare. On a ledge covered in green moss and in between old canons, the theater group took turns reciting Shakespeare on the entrance to the castle.

Limerick, Ireland e next set of performances took place in Limerick, starting with the theater group performing at the Milk Market.

As the rain poured down, the marching band embraced the weather - whether they wanted to or not - and prepared for the 51st Annual Limerick International Band Competition. Although everyone was soaking wet and cold, the band had fun randomly playing with another band and getting into a friendly

“I was most proud of the band for battling through very cold temperatures and pouring down rain in Limerick, but still having a wonderful performance and earning ‘Best Youth Band’,” said Marching Band Director Keith Farmer.

After the marching band dried o , they went to St. Mary’s Cathedral to watch the orchestra and choir perform. e orchestra and choir performed Mozart’s “Ave Verum Corpus” together. e choir went on to perform with beautiful stained glass behind them.

Galway, Ireland e groups enjoyed sightseeing and exploring some of the most famous landmarks such as the Cli s of Moher on their way to Galway.

Tucked away in a side street, in the Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas, Grandview had the chance to watch the performing arts in Ireland. After Grandview’s musical theater performed numerous classic broadway pieces with multiple quick changes, a school musical theater group performed some of their more mellow pieces.

Following musical theater, the students got a taste of Irish culture as they listened to a group play their violins, banjo and utes. Students erupted with excitement as tradition- al Irish step dancing began. e Grandview orchestra and choir then shared their pieces for the students and public of Galway.

“I tried to get them ready for how great the acoustics are in Europe,” said Loewen. “ ey get that last note in that last song and it reverates through the hall; I try to get them ready for it and when it happens, as it did, every kid just lit up with a smile as soon as they heard the magic ray on the last note. ey get it. It cascades down like glitter. It’s amazing.”

Dublin, Ireland

Before departing for the last city, the groups fought harsh winds and rain while exploring the Kylemore Abbey and learning about sheep herding at Dan O’Hara’s Homestead.

Blue skies appeared for the performing arts last full day in Dublin.

As the sun shined through the stained glass and centered in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the choir’s voices echoed throughout the church. e high notes in “Northern Light” by Ola Gjeilo and the upbeat melody of “Battle of Jericho” by Moses Hogan enchanted the public.

“ e cathedral acoustic is such a unique thing,” said Choir Director Darin Drown. “Most of the songs we sing are meant to be performed in the acoustic environment of the cathedral. We really need to use our eyes more than our ears in such an environment. You cannot trust your ears to tell you because of the echo.”

To celebrate a week’s worth of performances, students and sta took time to walk around Dublin before going to Taylors ree Rock for an evening lled with traditional Irish entertainment.

“ e last night’s dinner and entertainment was truly memorable and had the entire group up and out of their seats and dancing and singing along,” said Farmer.

Thu 4/20

Texas Hippie Coalition

@ 6pm Wild Goose Saloon, Parker

Creeping Death @ 6pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Sacred Reich @ 6pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Die Like Bothans: WP1313 presents

Jetboy @ 6pm Herman's Hideaway, 1578 S Broadway, Denver

Rend Collective @ 6pm

Cherry Hills Community Church, 3900 Grace Blvd, Highlands Ranch

TJ Miller @ 6:30pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 South Broadway, En‐glewood

Fri 4/21

School Break Camp - 4/21 @ 6:30am / $45 Parker Fieldhouse, 18700 E Plaza Dr., Parker. 303-805-6315

Municipal Waste @ 6pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐ wood

Frank Reyes @ 9pm Stampede, 2430 S Havana St, Aurora

Sat 4/22

Dear Marsha,: DM @ her Freaky Band @ Toleys @ 7pm Toley’s on the Creek, 16728 E Smoky Hill Rd Suite 11C, Centen‐nial

Mon 4/24

School Break Camp - 4/24 @ 6:30am / $45

Parker Fieldhouse, 18700 E Plaza Dr., Parker. 303-805-6315

Wed 4/26

Carcass @ 6pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood

Barkin' Dog Duathlon @ 7am / $58.50-$72

4800 S Dayton, Englewood easy life w/ Support from SAIAH

@ 8pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood

Tue 4/25

Dave Mensch - Tailgate Tavern - Parker, CO @ 5pm Tailgate Tavern & Grill, 19552 Mainstreet, Parker

Ladies Night @ 5pm / $10 Stampede, 2430 South Havana, Aurora

Fleming Mansion Walkthrough (about 45 days before event) @ 7pm Fleming Mansion, 1510 S. Grant St., Den‐ver. 720-913-0654

DJ Rockstar Aaron @ 7pm Bout Time Pub & Grub, 3580 S Platte River Dr A, Sheridan

Thu 4/27

The King Stan Band in Paradise @ 6pm Paradise Tavern, 9239 Park Mead‐ows Dr, Lone Tree

Vamonos Pest/Mobro:

Vamonos Pest at Wide Open

Saloon @ 5:30pm Wide Open Saloon, 5607 US-85, Sedalia

Rave On Productions: Yesterday and Today: The Interactive Beatles

Experience @ 6:30pm

Parker Arts, Culture & Events Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker

Tony Medina Music: The Alley Open Mic Hosted By Tony Medina @ 5:30pm The Alley, 2420 W Main St, Little‐ton

Last Train To Juarez: The En‐glewood Tavern, South Broad‐way, Englewood, CO, USA w/ Special Guest Tom McElvain @ 5pm The Englewood Tavern, 4386 S Broadway, Englewood

Tom Mcelvain Music @ 5pm The Englewood Tavern, 4386 S Broadway, Englewood

Jamie Lissow @ 6:30pm Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Pl, Greenwood Village