May 14, 2026
On Wednesday, May 14, the walls of the BMS cafetorium echoed with a sound that was uniquely personal. The Bentley High School band held its final concert of the year, a performance that traded traditional perfection for something much more valuable: student agency.
In a departure from standard programming, this year’s "Senior Choice" concert allowed every graduating senior to hand-pick a selection for the ensemble to perform. While the move empowered the students, it set a grueling pace for the musicians, who had to master six diverse ensemble pieces and a complex solo within the constraints of their one-hour daily class periods.
The repertoire was an eclectic reflection of the seniors' personalities, spanning video game scores, J-pop, and early 2000s hits. The program included:
* Doin’ Time – Sublime
* Bad Piggies – Ilmari Hakkola
* Readymade – Ado
* Halo Theme – O’Donnell and Salvatori
* This Love – Maroon 5
* Can’t Hold Us – Ward & Miller
In a moment of classical elegance, the audience was also treated to a performance of Liszt’s Liebestraum in A-Flat Major, No. 3, a technically demanding piano solo that added a layer of sophistication to the high-energy setlist.
With so much music to cover in such little time, the band director, Mrs. Nolan acknowledged that the pieces might not have reached the mirror-shine polish of a competition set. However, the trade-off was intentional. By giving the seniors the "conductor’s baton" to choose their own legacy, the concert became less about technical flawlessness and more about the voice and ownership of the performers.
The evening concluded with a touching tradition. Each senior was presented with a handmade pillow crafted from retired band uniforms—a physical piece of the program to take with them into the future.
As Mrs. Nolan shared public reminiscences of each student’s journey, the atmosphere shifted between laughter and tears. Her closing sentiment to each graduate served as a poignant reminder of the community they built together:
"You will always have a home with the Bentley Bands."
While the final notes have faded, the sense of family remains. As these seniors embark on their next chapters, they do so with the rhythm of their own choices still ringing in the air.
To hear the performances, click on the link below:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1kemn6dEGyWluRpBOEkN5b48w7ZvIoek1?usp=drive_link
In a departure from standard programming, this year’s "Senior Choice" concert allowed every graduating senior to hand-pick a selection for the ensemble to perform. While the move empowered the students, it set a grueling pace for the musicians, who had to master six diverse ensemble pieces and a complex solo within the constraints of their one-hour daily class periods.
The repertoire was an eclectic reflection of the seniors' personalities, spanning video game scores, J-pop, and early 2000s hits. The program included:
* Doin’ Time – Sublime
* Bad Piggies – Ilmari Hakkola
* Readymade – Ado
* Halo Theme – O’Donnell and Salvatori
* This Love – Maroon 5
* Can’t Hold Us – Ward & Miller
In a moment of classical elegance, the audience was also treated to a performance of Liszt’s Liebestraum in A-Flat Major, No. 3, a technically demanding piano solo that added a layer of sophistication to the high-energy setlist.
With so much music to cover in such little time, the band director, Mrs. Nolan acknowledged that the pieces might not have reached the mirror-shine polish of a competition set. However, the trade-off was intentional. By giving the seniors the "conductor’s baton" to choose their own legacy, the concert became less about technical flawlessness and more about the voice and ownership of the performers.
The evening concluded with a touching tradition. Each senior was presented with a handmade pillow crafted from retired band uniforms—a physical piece of the program to take with them into the future.
As Mrs. Nolan shared public reminiscences of each student’s journey, the atmosphere shifted between laughter and tears. Her closing sentiment to each graduate served as a poignant reminder of the community they built together:
"You will always have a home with the Bentley Bands."
While the final notes have faded, the sense of family remains. As these seniors embark on their next chapters, they do so with the rhythm of their own choices still ringing in the air.
To hear the performances, click on the link below:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1kemn6dEGyWluRpBOEkN5b48w7ZvIoek1?usp=drive_link