Thomas's Season Finale

This piece, which is selections from "Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End," is the last song Thomas played this year with the FIM Philharmonia. As you can see, this is a far larger group than the forty kids in the Philharmonia. The FIM has what they call their Showcase Concert which showcases (hence the name) all their ensembles, from the kids 3 years old to the high school seniors about to graduate and go on to greener pastures. There were about 350 kids in this collection, including the 8 percussionists. Thomas is the tiny one between Alyssa, his instructor (and the percussionist coordinator), and a high school senior. Indeed, Thomas and Omid (the other tiny one) are the little ones, the all other five kids are all 17 or 18. At 59 seconds in the clatter is Thomas and the kid he is next to dropping two chains on the floor (symbolizing the sound of the pirates being hung). Thomas's first words to me after the concert was over were, "I got to drop one of the chains!" At 2:48, the oboe solo starts--one of Simon's former logic students. I don't know if logic strengthened his musical abilities, but I'm sure it didn't hurt. The house was packed with an audience over 5,000 people filling not only the floor but four mezzanine levels. As usual, Thomas wasn't even nervous, just sad that the season was coming to and end.