MANSFIELD — Students at the Richland School of Academic Arts will put their musical abilities to the test for the Mallet Madness concert Thursday night at 6:30 p.m.
The free concert will precede the school’s annual Family Literacy Night, in which students bring books that they’ve read to life. “Each class is doing something a little different,” said Music Director Chesley Talisse.
Approximately 80 students are involved in the concert, which was developed last year as a fun and unique way of featuring the fourth and fifth grade classes.
Students will perform popular songs such as “Seven Nation Army,” “Crazy Train,” “Viva La Vida,” and “Somebody That I Used To Know” using xylophones, metallophones, glockenspiels, drums and recorders.
“We’re ending the concert with ‘Best Day Of My Life,’ a nice inspirational, upbeat song,” Talisse said.
The recorder choir, made up of fourth graders, will have the chance to improvise during a portion of the concert, Talisse said, giving them a special opportunity to be showcased.
“We’re really excited because this will be the first time using our brand new lights,” Talisse said.
The students have been preparing for the concert since October and are eager to perform.
“They’re so excited,” Talisse said. “They can’t wait.
“One student said that a lot of us are different, but when we come together, we come together for the sake of music.”
