Douglas High concert honors veterans

WINCHESTER — A woman's sobs cut through The Carpenters' “For All We Know” — proof that the choir's song about love and long distance struck a chord with audience members, many of whom have significant others fighting overseas.

It was just one of many emotional moments Wednesday evening at the Douglas High School Veterans Day Concert, titled “Many Americans, One America.”

The event, held at Jacoby Auditorium, is in its fourth year. It features the Winston school's band and choral programs, which include about 100 students.

On Friday, both directors were busy outfitting their musical troops — band director Bob Carwithen had boys at Tuxedo Warehouse and Karen Gibbs was once again glued to her sewing machine — pinning the finishing touches onto the large-scale program as the concert date approached.

“It's a headache, it's a huge headache, but I think the dividends are just huge,” Carwithen said Friday.

This year, unlike in past years, the band and choir classes were not scheduled at the same time during the school day. That meant a Tuesday dress rehearsal was the first time both directors and all ensembles played their three combined numbers together. The concert itself was the second time.

“We'll manage,” Gibbs said Friday.

And they did.

Carwithen sustained his band's tone long enough for Gibbs' sopranos to hit their high notes in “The Star-Spangled Banner.” There was no trace of recently dropped sleeves or new zippers.

Three of Gibbs' choirs presented four numbers about long-distance relationships and the struggles couples endure during war time.

The jazz band played a tribute to Miles Davis that included the classic Davis tune “So What” and a video biography.

Emcee National Guard Sgt. First Class Manuel Annear narrated the event, which focused on the contributions made by minorities in the military.

His historical narratives were accompanied by musical numbers honoring Jewish, Japanese, Italian and Hispanic servicemen and women, as well as that of other Americans.

“Some of the kids are sweating up here — they're working hard,” Annear said between one number.

Carwithen and Gibbs begin preparing for the Veterans Day concerts as soon as school starts. Carwithen said they “push the clock” each year to get kids prepared, both musically and mentally.

“My kids in band traditionally get wide-eyed,” he said. “It doesn't make much of an impression until they're sitting in front of the audience.”

One freshman agreed Wednesday evening.

Caitlyn Shanahan plays in the percussion section and said she was told there would be a lot of people. Still, she said she wasn't prepared for the crowd that nearly filled the 1,000-seat UCC auditorium. She recovered quickly from the shock, however.

“It's really exciting to be in front of the crowd and to know we're doing it for the veterans,” she said. “It's a really cool thing that we do.”

Last year, the event drew about 700 people; Annear said the crowd looked much bigger this year.

The many veterans who attended the event were asked to stand as the combined band and choir performed an arrangement that included tunes for all branches of the military, such as “Anchors Aweigh” for the Navy and “The Marine's Hymn.”

Applause for the many veterans representing the Army drowned the words the choir sang to “The Caisson Song.”

One such veteran was enjoying his first Douglas High School concert.

Former Oregon Rep. Bill Markham of Roseburg, a former Riddle reisdent, was a combat pilot in World War II for what was then the Army Air Force.

“I'd heard they put on a great show here and it's just marvelous. It's a great program,” Markham said.

• You can reach reporter DD Bixby at 957-4211 or by e-mail at dbixby@nrtoday.com.