A Very Special Spring Concert at Meadows Valley High School
Mariah Rambo, a senior at Meadows Valley School, designed the program cover art for their Spring Concert this year. It’s a picture of Jeff Parnett, the music and band teacher. This was his 41st and last spring concert before retirement.
As announcements were being made to the crowd and children were being settled, little did Jeff know that about 40 of his former students, including me, were hiding in a classroom, waiting for our cue. When the children gave a shout out to Mr. Parnett, Eye of the Tiger began to play in the background, and we were waved into the gymnasium. Each of us playing kazoos to the music, we walked down the center aisle, right up to the stunned Parnett. With tears in his eyes and ours, we each took a turn giving him a hug before finding our seats. The former students ranged from last year’s band class clear back to the class of 1984. Some came from as far as Salt Lake, Portland and California! We all just wanted him to know how much he meant to us. We took our seats and enjoyed the entertainment.
Jeff played the piano while elementary grades sang some really fun songs, one, Herman the Hermit Crab, which he wrote. Then, the curtains opened and Mr. Parnett went onstage to direct the bands one last time. Beginning band, who did not just play songs like Mary had a Little Lamb, by the way. They played Centurion and Festival of the Gladiators! Then, Middle School Band played three songs including Stone Age Stomp where the audience got to participate, stomping on Parnett’s cue. Then, the always highly anticipated High School Band played some awesome concert band songs and then some rockin’ pep band songs. My personal favorite was Dude Looks Like a Lady! What a performance! There will never be another like it because there will never be another Jeff Parnett. Jeff and his former students then had some cake made by Sue Foster while doing some catching up and reminiscing. What a wonderful night. Thank you, Terri Smith, for organizing the whole surprise. Thank you, Mr. Parnett for teaching us the greatness of playing music together and being such an awesome influence in all our lives.
