GALWAY–Friday, November 1st, the Galway Friends of Music hosted the annual fall Coffee House at 7 p.m. in the high school gym  The price was $5 for adults and $3 for students and there was a variety of free coffee, beverages and appetizers.

The show started with Sam Flinton and Trudi VanOmmeren’s entrance playing  “The Green Hills of Tyrol” with the bagpipes. The two went to Scotland in August 2012 with the Scotia Glenville grade 4 Junior Pipe Band under the direction of pipe major Aureen Conner. They played at the World Championships at Glasgow and they won the Worlds for the grade 4 novice juvenile division.On Friday they did a great demonstration of their talent playing this extravagant instrument.

Then the Chamber Singers came in performing “Bye Bye Blackbird” by Dixon/Henderson, arr. Jay Althouse and “I Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” by Mills/ Ellington, arr. MacHuff. The group is composed of singers Erica Culbert, Shelby Cull, Brittany Keller, Julianna Kopa, Ashley Kowalzyk, Brooke Martin, Camille Milton, Sarah Ostrowski and Gabrielle Urban, with Ms. Mellenie Booth as their director.

The Jr. High Percussion Ensemble came next with “On Our Rockers” by Dixon/ Henderson, arr. Jay Althouse.  Percussionists Erik Malanoski, Erik Matthews, Jake Restivo, Quinn Sakala and director Mr. Barrow kept everybody entertained with their song. Next was the Elementary Chorus, with  77 kids singing “First Flakes” by Amy F. Bernon and “Chase Your Blues Away” by Patsy Ford Simms, accompanied by director Mrs. Sharon Miller.

Nine-year-old Rowan Smith performed “Abandon’s Hero” and impressed everybody with his good voice and his talent playing the piano. His brother Quinn Smith sang “Crown Him (Majesty)” by Chris Tomlin in his beautiful low voice. The oldest of the Smiths, Brady, and Lide Larrañaga were next with a duet of the slow version of Swedish House Mafia’s “Don’t You Worry Child” with Brady playing the guitar. He has sung at four other Coffee Houses before but it was the first time Lide sang in public. After the two performed together, Brady performed an original composition–he both sang and played the guitar for the song he wrote.   He had performed one of his own songs before with some more friends but this was the first time solo. He was inspired by an experience he had last year and even if he was very nervous at the beginning, as he confessed to the public, he did great and received a big applause at the end of the song.

Jon Fajans made everybody smile with the African song “Circle of Life” from the movie The Lion King as it reminded us of our childhood and besides that the song was very joyful. The Jazz Band did a great job with Jacob Ernst and Willa Whittmore playing the Alto Sax; Devin Collins and Justin Matthews with the Tenor Sax; Hunter Scribner with the Baritone Sax; Steven Culbert, Shelby Cull, Sara Larocca and Brady Smith with the trumpet; Conor Bradshaw, Shaw Kerry, Quinn Smith and Mr. Barrow with the Trombone and Connor Alvord, Sam Flinton and Gabbi Urban handling the Rhythm section. They played “Spankly” by Neal Hefti, arr. Michael Sweeney and “Where It’s At!”by Andy Clark.  Justin Mathews, Mr. Barrow, Connor Alvord, Jacob Ernst, Hunter Scribner and Brady Smith impressed the public with totally improvised solos.

Next Riley Flint and Hannah Thompson performed “Night Rider’s Lament” by Michael Burton. Then the Thompson family performed “Speed of the Sound of Loneliness by John Prine. Hannah sang while her father Bruce played the guitar and  brother Jacob played the bass.  Riley Flint sang “Oh What a Beautiful Morning” by Rogers & Hammerstein and everybody enjoyed it.

Then the group composed of Connor and Dillon Alvord singing and playing the guitar and Sam Flinton on the bass performed three beautiful songs:” Ooh La La” by The Faces, “Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows” By Brand New and “The Adventurer” by Angels and Airwaves.

Julianna Kopa left the public in awe, singing “Jar of Hearts” by Christina Perri. Then Mary Potash joined her and they sang “Distant Melody” from the musical Peter Pan.

Then Brit Keller came on scene with her guitar to sing “Ho Hey” by The Lumineers, and she made the public clap to the beat of the song and sing with her too.

To finish the Coffee House 2013 Sam Flinton and Trudi VanOmmeren came back with their bagpipes and played “Troy’s Wedding,” “Pumpkin’s Fancy” and “Amazing Grace.”  Everybody that attended to the Coffee House had fun and enjoyed Galway’s talent.