
2023 WSMA State Honors Concerts
11/5/2023 | 56m 48sVideo has Closed Captions
Highlights from the 2023 WSMA State Honors Concerts.
The Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) State Honors Concerts are the culmination of a 9-month journey shared by over 400 of the state’s most musically talented youth. Following spring auditions and a 4-day summer camp, students reunite in fall for one night of live performances. Enjoy highlights from this event, recorded October 26-27.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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WSMA State Honors Concerts is a local public television program presented by PBS Wisconsin
Funding for WSMA State Honors Concerts is provided by donors to the Focus Fund for the Arts and Friends of PBS Wisconsin.

2023 WSMA State Honors Concerts
11/5/2023 | 56m 48sVideo has Closed Captions
The Wisconsin School Music Association (WSMA) State Honors Concerts are the culmination of a 9-month journey shared by over 400 of the state’s most musically talented youth. Following spring auditions and a 4-day summer camp, students reunite in fall for one night of live performances. Enjoy highlights from this event, recorded October 26-27.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch WSMA State Honors Concerts
WSMA State Honors Concerts is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship[inspirational orchestral music] - The following program is a PBS Wisconsin original production.
[trumpet fanfare] - Narrator: Every October, Wisconsin's most talented high school musicians gather in Madison to participate in a unique workshop.
[trumpet fanfare] Under the guidance of acclaimed conductors, over 400 students from across the state take center stage with their peers.
Five ensembles... two days... one unforgettable experience!
Welcome to the 2023 Wisconsin School Music Association State Honors Concerts!
- Announcer: Funding for the State Honors Concerts is provided by donors to the Focus Fund for the Arts, and Friends of PBS Wisconsin.
[fast orchestral music] ["Festive Overture" by Dmitri Shostakovich] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [cheers and applause] ["KwaMashu", South African folk song by Theodore Cookson] [singing in Zulu, moderately quick] ♪ Wenuse benza KwaMashu maye ♪ ♪ Wenuse benza KwaMashu maye ♪ ♪ KuseThewinima ♪ ♪ KwaMashu Maye ♪ ♪ KuseThewinima ♪ ♪ KwaMashu maye ♪ ♪ Wenuse benza ♪ ♪ KwaMashu maye ♪ ♪ Wenuse benza ♪ ♪ KwaMashu maye ♪ ♪ Wenuse benza ♪ ♪ KwaMashu maye ♪ ♪ Wenuse benza ♪ ♪ KwaMashu maye ♪ ♪ Wenuse benza ♪ ♪ KwaMashu maye ♪ ♪ Wenuse benza ♪ ♪ KwaMashu maye ♪ ♪ KuseThewinima ♪ ♪ KwaMashu maye ♪ ♪ KuseThewinima ♪ ♪ KwaMashu Maye ♪ ♪ Wenuse benza ♪ ♪ KwaMashu maye ♪ ♪ Wenuse benza ♪ ♪ KwaMashu maye ♪ ♪ Wenuse benza ♪ ♪ KwaMashu maye ♪ ♪ Wenuse benza ♪ ♪ KwaMashu maye ♪ ♪ Tiwiwi wiwi ♪ [stomp] ♪ Tiwiwi tiwi ♪ [stomp] ♪ Tiwiwi wiwi ♪ [stomp] ♪ Tiwiwi ♪ [stomp] ♪ Tiwi Tiwiwiwiwiwi ♪ [stomp] ♪ Tiwiwi Tiwi ♪ [stomp] ♪ Tiwiwiwiwiwi ♪ [stomp] ♪ Tiwiwi Tiwi ♪ [stomp] ♪ Tiwiwiwiwi ♪ [stomp] ♪ Tiwiwi wiwi ♪ ♪ Tiwiwiwiwi ♪ [stomp, clap] ♪ Tiwiwi wiwi ♪ ♪ Tiwiwiwiwi ♪ ♪ Tiwiwi wiwi ♪ ♪ Tiwiwiwiwi ♪ [clap] ♪ Tiwiwi wiwi ♪ ♪ Wenuse benza KwaMashu maye ♪ ♪ Wenuse benza KwaMashu maye ♪ ♪ KuseThewinima ♪ ♪ KwaMashu Maye ♪ ♪ KuseThewinima ♪ ♪ KwaMashu ♪ [vocalizing] ♪ KwaMashu ♪ [vocalizing, patting dejembe] [cheers, whistles, and applause] - Andrew Last: Gosh, it's good to be with you tonight!
I have had such a great time with these incredible, incredible musicians.
We got together in June and made some incredible music.
And they kind of set the bar pretty high at that, at that summer camp.
They worked their tails off.
And I don't know if you've noticed this, but they're not standing in sections.
They're standing quartets-- so none of them are standing next to their same part.
And that is a certain level of musicianship right there, especially when it's not an ensemble that you sing with during the normal school year.
So they have done exceptional work in that area, and I am so glad and happy to share and showcase their talents with you tonight.
[cheers and applause] [piano introduction] ["Sweet Rivers" by Shawn Kirchner] - Women: ♪ Sweet rivers of redeeming love ♪ ♪ Lie just before mine eyes ♪ ♪ Had I the pinions of a dove ♪ ♪ I'd to those rivers fly ♪ - Men and Women: ♪ I'd rise superior to my pain ♪ ♪ With joy outstrip the wind ♪ ♪ I'd cross o'er Jordan's stormy waves ♪ ♪ And leave the world behind ♪ [piano interlude] - Men: ♪ A few more days, or years at most ♪ ♪ My troubles will be o'er ♪ ♪ I hope to join the Heav'nly host ♪ ♪ On Canaan's happy shore ♪ - Men and Women: ♪ My rapt'rous soul shall drink and feast ♪ ♪ In love's unbounded sea ♪ ♪ The glorious hope of endless rest ♪ ♪ Is ravishing to me ♪ [rhythmic piano interlude] ♪ O, come, my Savior, come away ♪ ♪ And bear me through the sky ♪ ♪ And bear me through the sky ♪ ♪ Nor let thy chariot wheels delay ♪ ♪ But quickly draw thou nigh ♪ ♪ Then I shall join the angel throng ♪ ♪ And circle round thy throne ♪ ♪ I'll sing through all the ages long ♪ ♪ And joy to be thine own ♪ ♪ And joy to be thine own ♪ ♪ To be thine own ♪ ♪ Joy to be thine own ♪ ♪ To be thine own ♪ ♪ To be thine own ♪ ♪ To be thine own ♪ [inspiring piano interlude] ♪ Sweet rivers of redeeming love ♪ ♪ Lie just before mine eyes ♪ ♪ Had I the pinions of a dove ♪ ♪ I'd to those rivers fly ♪ ♪ I'd rise superior to my pain ♪ ♪ With joy outstrip the wind ♪ ♪ I'd cross o'er Jordan's stormy waves ♪ ♪ And leave the world behind ♪ ♪ I'd cross o'er Jordan's stormy waves ♪ ♪ And leave the world behind ♪ ♪ Leave the world behind ♪ ♪ Sweet rivers of redeeming love ♪ ♪ Sweet rivers of redeeming love ♪ ♪ Sweet rivers of redeeming love ♪ ♪ Lie just before mine eyes ♪ [rapturous cheering and applause] ["Aurora Awakes" by John Mackey] ♪ ♪ [gentle percussion, woodwinds] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [energy and tempo quicken] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [melody accelerates] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [cheers and applause] ["Hope Lingers On" by Lissa Schekenburger] ♪ My mother, when love is gone ♪ ♪ My mother, when love is gone ♪ ♪ In our darkest hour, hope lingers on ♪ ♪ My father, when peace is gone ♪ ♪ My father, when peace is gone ♪ ♪ In our darkest hour, hope lingers on ♪ [accompanied by cajón and shaker] ♪ I will not hate, and I will not fear ♪ ♪ In our darkest hour, hope lingers here ♪ ♪ My sister, when equality's gone ♪ ♪ My sister, when equality's gone ♪ ♪ In our darkest hour, hope lingers on ♪ ♪ My brother, [clap] with tolerance gone [clap] ♪ ♪ My brother, [clap] with tolerance gone [clap] ♪ ♪ In our darkest hour, hope lingers on ♪ [stomping, then clapping] ♪ I will not hate, and I will not fear ♪ ♪ In our darkest hour, hope lingers here ♪ ♪ My love, when honor is gone ♪ ♪ My love, when honor is gone ♪ ♪ In our darkest hour, hope lingers on ♪ [stomping] ♪ My country, when justice is gone ♪ ♪ My country, when justice is gone ♪ ♪ In our darkest hour, hope lingers on ♪ [fast clapping] ♪ I will not hate ♪ ♪ and I will not fear ♪ ♪ In our darkest hour ♪ ♪ hope lingers here ♪ ♪ I will not hate ♪ ♪ and I will not fear ♪ ♪ In our darkest hour ♪ [rhythmic percussion] ♪ Hope lingers here ♪ [shimmery percussion] ♪ Hope lingers here ♪ [high-energy cheers and applause] - Julie Skadsem: Parents, thank you for investing in your kids' social and emotional health.
Choir and music, the arts are really where it's at right now.
Coming out of COVID, so many kids are so lost.
And having them have this sort of ensemble to be a part of builds their strength, it builds their relationships, and it gives them a home away from your home.
[speaking with great emotion] So, thank you!
[applause] ["Vichten", a joyful modern Acadian folk song] [nonsense French syllables] - Soloist: ♪ Vichten a ven a ven Vichten a ven a va ♪ ♪ Vichten a ven a ven a ven a ven a va va ♪ ♪ Taria a ka ta ka shoon ta ka shoon ta ka shoon ♪ ♪ Taria ka ta ka shoon ♪ ♪ Vichten a ven a va ♪ [nonsense French syllables] - Choir: ♪ Vichten a ven a ven Vichten a ven a va ♪ ♪ Vichten a ven a ven a ven a ven a va va ♪ ♪ Taria a ka ta ka shoon ta ka shoon ta ka shoon ♪ ♪ Taria ka ta ka shoon vichten a ven a va ♪ ♪ Ala couchi oom shoo shla Ha!
♪ ♪ Ala couchi oom shoo shla Ha!
♪ ♪ Bi bi bit'n taria ♪ ♪ Bodnah bi bodne bit'n taria ♪ ♪ Stalawala w'd da lia bibodn ne' ♪ ♪ Bi bi bit'n taria ♪ ♪ Bodnah bi bodne ♪ ♪ Stalawala w'd da lia bibodn ne' ♪ ♪ Bi bi bit'n taria oo!
♪ ♪ Vichten a ven a ven Vichten a ven a va ♪ ♪ Vichten a ven a ven a ven a ven a va va ♪ ♪ Ala couchi oom shoo shla ♪ ♪ Ala couchi oom shoo shla ♪ ♪ Ala couchi oom shoo shla lizabeta ♪ ♪ Ala couchi oom shoo shla ♪ [clap] ♪ Ala couchi oom shoo shla lizabeta ♪ ♪ Ala couchi oom shoo shla ♪ [clap] ♪ Bi bi bit'n taria ♪ ♪ Bodnah bi bodne ♪ [stomp] ♪ Stalawala w'd da lia bibodn ne' ♪ ♪ Bi bi bit'n taria bodnah bi bodne ♪ ♪ Stalawala w'd da lia bibodn ne' ♪ ♪ Bi bi bi ten oo!
♪ ♪ Vichten a ven a ven Vichten a ven a va ♪ ♪ Vichten a ven a ven a ven a ven a va va ♪ ♪ Taria aka taka shoon taka shoon taka shoon ♪ ♪ Taria aka taka shoon vichten a ven a Hah!
♪ ♪ Vichten a ven a ven Vichten a ven a va ♪ ♪ Vichten a ven a ven a ven a ven a va va ♪ ♪ Taria aka taka shoon taka shoon taka shoon ♪ ♪ Taria aka taka shoon vichten a ven a Hah!
♪ ♪ Vichten a ven a ven Vichten a ven a va ♪ ♪ Vichten a ven a ven a ven a ven a va va ♪ ♪ Taria aka taka shoon taka shoon taka shoon ♪ ♪ Taria aka taka shoon vichten a ven a Hah!
♪ [cheers, whistles, and applause] ["Black Ball Swing" by Marcus Shelby] [drum solo] [full band playing up tempo jazz] [sparkly piano] [improvised bari sax solo] [modern big band music] ♪ ♪ [improvised trumpet solo] ♪ ♪ [improvised trombone solo] ♪ ♪ [improvised trumpet solo] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [improvised piano solo] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [improvised drum solo] ♪ ♪ [push-and-pull rhythm] [grand flourish] [cheers and applause] ["Symphonic Metamorphosis" by Paul Hindemith] [trumpet and trombone fanfare] [moody woodwind melody] [bouncy string accompaniment] [mid-tempo symphony] [loud dissonance] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [cymbal crash] [entire orchestra together] [lighthearted melody] [celebratory tone] [serious, dramatic mood] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [cheers and applause] [piano solo with slow, somber chords] ["Love: Then and Still" by Susan Labarr] ♪ We were married in late September ♪ ♪ Among the changing leaves ♪ ♪ Crimson banners in the courtyard ♪ ♪ Heralding our union ♪ ♪ We were so happy then ♪ [piano interlude] ♪ The music we shared brought us together ♪ ♪ Brought us together ♪ ♪ A duet most unlikely ♪ ♪ Work and home and son and daughter ♪ ♪ Busy in joy and love ♪ ♪ How simple it seemed, then ♪ [piano interlude] ♪ But who could have known ♪ ♪ what fate awaited ♪ ♪ Our little family of four?
♪ ♪ A spectre came and dwelt among us ♪ ♪ And robbed us of our joy ♪ ♪ And then we were only three ♪ [piano interlude] ♪ But time has passed ♪ ♪ And wounds have healed ♪ ♪ And wounds have healed ♪ ♪ Leaving scars behind ♪ ♪ But scars remind us ♪ ♪ Remind us ♪ ♪ What was, and what yet may be ♪ ♪ What yet may be ♪ ♪ That we loved ♪ ♪ that we loved ♪ ♪ That we loved ♪ ♪ that we loved ♪ ♪ That we loved that we loved ♪ ♪ That we loved ♪ ♪ that we loved ♪ ♪ That we loved ♪ ♪ And love you still ♪ [slow, somber piano chords] ♪ ♪ [applause] - Peter Haberman: What a privilege it has been for me-- in the last couple days, as well as June-- to be back in the great state of Wisconsin, helping celebrate all that's good about music education here.
It's been wonderful to be back and you have a lot to be proud of here.
The next piece we're about to play for you is by Leonard Bernstein.
It's a fun parody, it's cheeky, it's cute, it's precious, it's difficult.
It's called "Slava!"
He wrote it for his friend and that was his friend's nickname.
Here is Bernstein's "Slava!"
[quirky, up tempo orchestral music] ["Slava!"
by Leonard Bernstein] [rousing and festive tune] [vaudevillian razz-ma-tazz tune] [harmonious melody] ♪ ♪ [sliding trombones] [melody speeds up] ♪ ♪ - Slava!
(Russian for "Glory!")
♪ ♪ [cheers and applause] [piano solo introduction] ["Music Down In My Soul" arranged by Moses Hogan] ♪ I hear music in the air ♪ [piano interlude] ♪ I can feel it in the air ♪ ♪ There must be a God somewhere ♪ [piano interlude] ♪ Over my head ♪ ♪ I hear music in the air ♪ ♪ Over my head I hear music in the air ♪ ♪ Over my head I hear music in the air ♪ ♪ There must be a God somewhere ♪ ♪ Over my head ♪ ♪ I hear singing in the air ♪ ♪ Over my head I hear singing in the air ♪ ♪ Over my head ♪ ♪ I hear singing in the air ♪ ♪ There must be a God ♪ ♪ There must be a God ♪ ♪ There must be a God somewhere ♪ [gospel style piano accompaniment] ♪ I got this music down in my soul ♪ ♪ And it fills my heart with the joy of the Lord!
♪ ♪ I got this music down in my soul ♪ ♪ And it fills my heart with the joy of the Lord!
♪ [call-and-response] ♪ I've got joy!
♪ ♪ I've got it, joy everlasting ♪ ♪ I've got peace!
♪ ♪ I've got it, peace everlasting ♪ ♪ I've got love!
♪ ♪ I've got it, love everlasting ♪ ♪ I've got joy!
♪ ♪ I've got it, joy everlasting ♪ ♪ Love in my heart ♪ ♪ Oh yes, I got peace in my soul ♪ ♪ Oh yes, I got joy in my heart ♪ ♪ Joy today!
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I got this music down in my soul ♪ ♪ And it fills my heart with the joy of the Lord!
♪ ♪ I got this music down in my soul ♪ ♪ And it fills my heart with the joy of the Lord!
♪ [call-and-response] ♪ I've got joy!
♪ ♪ I've got it, joy everlasting ♪ ♪ I've got peace!
♪ ♪ I've got it, peace everlasting ♪ ♪ I've got love!
♪ ♪ I've got it, love everlasting ♪ ♪ I've got joy!
♪ ♪ I've got it, joy everlasting ♪ ♪ Love in my heart ♪ ♪ Oh yes, I got peace in my soul ♪ ♪ Oh yes, I got joy in my heart ♪ ♪ Joy today!
♪ [call-and-response] ♪ Do you love the Lord?
♪ ♪ I love the Lord!
♪ ♪ Do you love the Lord?
♪ ♪ I love the Lord!
♪ ♪ Do you love the Lord?
♪ ♪ I love the Lord!
♪ ♪ Do you love the Lord?
♪ ♪ I love the Lord!
♪ ♪ Do you love the Lord?
♪ ♪ I love the Lord!
♪ ♪ Do you love the Lord?
♪ ♪ I love the Lord!
♪ ♪ Well, I've got joy!
♪ ♪ I've got it, joy everlasting!
♪ ♪ I've got joy!
♪ ♪ I've got it, joy everlasting!
♪ ♪ Peace!
♪ ♪ I've got it, peace everlasting!
♪ ♪ Peace!
♪ ♪ I've got it, peace everlasting!
♪ ♪ Love!
♪ ♪ I've got it, love everlasting!
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Music down in my soul ♪ ♪ And it fills my heart with the joy of the Lord!
♪ ♪ I got this music down in my soul ♪ ♪ And it fills my heart with the joy of the Lord!
♪ ♪ I've got joy!
♪ ♪ I've got it, joy everlasting ♪ ♪ I've got peace!
♪ ♪ I've got it, peace everlasting ♪ ♪ I've got love!
♪ ♪ I've got it, love everlasting ♪ ♪ I've got joy!
♪ ♪ I've got it, joy everlasting ♪ ♪ Love in my heart ♪ ♪ Oh yes, I got peace in my soul ♪ ♪ Oh yes, I got joy in my heart ♪ ♪ I got joy!
♪ ♪ I got peace!
♪ ♪ I got love!
♪ ♪ In my soul!
♪ [piano glissando] [thundering cheers and applause] - Announcer: Funding for the 2023 WSMA State Honors Concerts was provided by donors to the Focus Fund for the Arts and Friends of PBS Wisconsin.
2023 WSMA State Honors Band Concert
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 11/5/2023 | 43m 21s | Band students from across Wisconsin perform before a live audience. (43m 21s)
2023 WSMA State Honors Jazz Concert
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 11/5/2023 | 54m 46s | High school jazz musicians from across the state perform at Madison’s Monona Terrace. (54m 46s)
2023 WSMA State Honors Mixed Choir Concert
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 11/5/2023 | 35m 39s | Choir students from across Wisconsin gather in Madison for a rewarding musical experience. (35m 39s)
2023 WSMA State Honors Orchestra Concert
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 11/5/2023 | 51m 48s | Orchestra students gather in Madison for an unforgettable musical experience. (51m 48s)
2023 WSMA State Honors Treble Choir Concert
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 11/5/2023 | 38m 15s | Choir students from all corners of the state perform in Madison. (38m 15s)
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WSMA State Honors Concerts is a local public television program presented by PBS Wisconsin
Funding for WSMA State Honors Concerts is provided by donors to the Focus Fund for the Arts and Friends of PBS Wisconsin.





