10th Annual Prisms Concert — Big Top Theme Delivered the Greatest Show

Billed as “The Show of All Shows,” the 2011 Canton High School Prisms Concert lived up to its lofty title Sunday afternoon. Every year since 1991, the senior- class members of Canton High’s band have taken charge of the start to finish production of this artistic, musical event.

The creative circus theme was quickly set for concert attendees with jugglers, mimes, a “bearded” lady and strolling musicians greeting them as they made their way from the front door of Canton High to the auditorium. Senior Victoria Biondo served as Ring Master of Ceremonies punctuating the concert with theatrical readings and poems.  Victoria and several other fellow student actors, dancers and set/lighting technicians contributed to the artistic flair of the concert. 

“We wanted to pull in the many creative talents of our classmates to add to our band concert,” explained Jenna Stanwood, senior band member who co-produced Prisms 2011 with Deanna Nappi.

From the first percussion performance featuring a duo of drums playing softly in the dark, growing ever louder as realistic pseudo-flames shot up behind the drummers to the finale arrangement of Riverdance, which concluded with a literal bang as an explosion of confetti rained over the crowd from the rear of the auditorium; the incredible music and dramatic effects were remarkable.

Ian Jones, who plays the alto sax, was one of the many seniors involved with the planning and coordination of this year’s Prisms. 

“Since the senior class runs this event each year, it is always a brand new set of people producing the concert which makes it really challenging,” he said.  "It was hectic getting all the details to come together.  But we did it and feel great about the result.”

The musical pieces were performed by the Percussion Ensemble, The 9th Grade Concert Band, the Tuba Quartet (including a guest appearance by Superintendent of Schools  Kevin Case,) the Jazz Combo, the Chamber Ensemble, the Flute Choir, the Jazz Ensemble, the Flute Ensemble and the Symphonic Band.

Stanwood concluded, “This was a huge undertaking.  It was really hard with all the snow days we have had.  We felt like we were running behind, but dozens of students came out to help us with last minute details like folding programs.  In the end it all came together wonderfully.”