By Claire Chow ’26

The annual Spring Pops Concert will be held on Thursday, May 15, at 7:30 p.m. in the Burgin Center for the Arts Simon Theatre. The performance lineup includes the Mercersburg Academy Jazz Band and a cappella groups. The concert is open to the public, and admission is free.

The Jazz Band, directed by Shami Beni, will perform seven pieces, two of which will feature Mercersburg’s String Ensemble Director Michael Cameron on the cello. Selections include: 

• “Cinema Paradiso” by Ennio Morricone and Andrea Morricone, arr. Mark Taylor, featuring William Feaste ’25 on the trumpet
• “Long Lost Friend” by George Shutack, arr. George Shutack, featuring Ava Guzic ’25 on the alto saxophone
• “Steampunk” by Erik Morales, featuring Ethan Stiffler ’25 on the electric guitar
• “Charade” by Henry Mancini, arr. Mark Taylor, featuring Landon Britton ’25 on the trombone
• “The Chicken” by Alfred James Ellis, arr. Kris Berg, featuring numerous graduating seniors
• The Wayfaring Stranger, American Folk, arr. for solo cello by Ilse de Ziah, featuring Michael Cameron
• Take The ‘A’ Train, by Billy Strayhorn, arr. for solo cello by Fred Lieder, featuring Michael Cameron

Cameron is grateful to Beni for granting him the opportunity to share this music with the community. Beni is excited to be showcasing a wide range of styles, including bossa nova, funk, and a surprise genre twist. He is also proud of the commitment and musicianship the group has demonstrated throughout the year. 

The a cappella groups, Magalia and Octet, will perform a variety of pieces, including “Stand by Me” (Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber, and Mike Stoller; arr. Mac Huff), “I Won’t Say (I’m in Love)” (Alan Menken, arr. David Zippel), and “Always Be My Baby” (Mariah Carey, Jermain Dupri, and Manuel Seal; arr. Deke Sharon). 

Octet will perform “The Way You Do the Things You Do” (William "Smokey" Robinson and Robert Rodgers, arr. Deke Sharon), “Go the Distance” (Alan Menken, arr. Aaron Dale), “The Longest Time” (Billy Joel, arr. Roger Emerson), and “Mercury Records” (Guo Ding, arr. Collin Jin ’25).

The song “Mercury Records” means a lot to Jin ’25, a three-year member of the Octet. He wanted to take a shot at arranging before graduating in May, and mentioned that the process was difficult. 

Magalia and Octet (Magtet) will jointly perform “Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish and arranged by Kenter Davies.

First-year music faculty member Ben Demerath is excited for the concert, as the informal and casual style of the Pops Concert is unlike anything he’s seen before. He mentions that “there's no printed program. The musicians are introducing the music that you're about to hear.”

The Spring Pops Concert will be the final concert featuring musicians from the Class of 2025. The performers will travel to the Music in the Parks: Hersheypark Adjudication on Friday, May 16.