Energy, Excitement Evident at End-of-Year NHS Concert

May 22, 2026
• Student musicians wrapped the school year with a final concert performance. The concert also marked the conclusion of the band director’s first year with the school.

From classical 18th century compositions to ’70s funk, the Needham High School Band and Jazz Concert spanned time and genre with a diverse repertoire of musical pieces in their final formal performance of the year on Wednesday. The night featured musical performances from the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Jazz Lab and the Jazz Ensemble.

The concert was particularly significant for first-year director of the band program, Brian Martin — who directs the Concert Band, Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble — as well as for the seniors in the band program, as this marked their last formal concert performance together.

Opening the show, the Concert Band performed four pieces, opening with “Fanfare Esprit” by Carol Brittin Chambers. They also performed David Gillingham’s piece “At Morning’s First Light” and “Air for Band” by Frank Erickson, both of which featured prominent woodwinds. The Concert Band closed with Robert W. Smith’s “Encanto,” known as “a staple of high school band literature,” Martin said.

“For the Concert Band, I was looking for some material that would really deepen their listening skills to one another,” Martin said, “and get them thinking more like an ensemble and less like individuals and collaborating in that spirit.”

The Symphonic Band played next, who typically play more challenging pieces. The band kicked off their performance with Frank Ticheli’s high energy “Vesuvius,” a very rhythmic and active piece about the volcanic eruption in Pompeii.

“Vesuvius” represented a full-circle moment both for seniors in the band, as well as Martin himself. The seniors, who requested the song, performed it during their freshman year, and Martin also performed the number in high school, when he played the trombone.

“Being able to get the students to understand the music is a different skillset than being able to play it yourself or even being able to understand it yourself,” Martin said of his role. “It’s very different putting together the whole puzzle rather than just really making sure your piece of it is as polished as it can be.”

The seniors in the Symphonic Band chose the piece “Passacaglia” by G.F. Handel, continuing the tradition of departing performers selecting a piece for the band to learn for their last concert performance. The composition, dating back to the 18th century, was the oldest piece of music from the performance.

In a nod to Needham, the band also performed “Symphony in Blue and Gold” by Erika Svanoe, which blends wind band, jazz and blues together. While Martin said he was initially drawn to the piece due to the colors aligning with NHS’s colors, the composition served as a challenging piece for the students.

Following the Concert Band and the Symphonic Band, the concert transitioned into the jazz half, with performances from the Jazz Lab and the Jazz Ensemble.

Martin directed the Jazz Ensemble as well, who opened with “Some Skunk Funk” by the Brecker Brothers, a piece that blends jazz and funk. They also performed “Three and One” by Thad Jones and “Little Gus” by Paul McKee.

McKee and Martin share an unusual connection: both hail from neighboring towns in Iowa and played the trombone. Prior to the band’s performance of “Little Gus,” Martin told the audience of McKee’s impact on his music career prior to the musician’s recent passing. Although Martin chose the piece earlier, he dedicated the performance in McKee’s memory.

The Jazz Lab, directed by Alexander Lee-Clark, is a much smaller group of nine performers, who hone their skills and play less formally than the ensemble. They opened with an energetic performance of a mashup of “Cottontail” by Duke Ellington and “Posin” by Glenn Gatsby, at the student performers’ suggestion.

Jazz Lab students also requested to play “Agua de Beber” by Antonio Carlos Jobim, a Brazilian composer. The Jazz Lab closed with the funky rhythmic piece “Gimme Some More” by James Brown’s band The J.B.’s, selected by Lee-Clark.

The 2025-2026 school year marks Martin’s first year as the NHS band director. During his first year, the band program consisted of around 90 students, with the number expected to grow to 115 students for next year, he said in an interview.

The increase in students is “very gratifying as a first-year teacher,” he said. “Usually after the first year in a position, numbers go down. Mine are going up, and that’s very cool to see.”

The concert performance showed a strong response to Martin’s new leadership. After each senior received a flower for the last performance from Martin, they presented him with end-of-year gifts: artwork, flowers and a t-shirt reading “Let’s Make Some Music Today,” reflecting the mission statement he starts every rehearsal with.

Looking back on his near completion of his first full year as director of the band program, Martin said he was welcomed by so many people who have supported him as he gets settled into the school.

Before the school year closes out, student musicians will also perform in the NHS Pops Concert on May 27, which will feature performances from the bands, the jazz, the strings and the Modern Music Lab. The Graduation Chorus and Band Performance is on June 7.

The full concert will be available on The Needham Channel’s website next month.

Rylan Jones is a graduating senior at Dana Hall School. She plans to attend Northeastern University in the fall.