News
The Lorax Leads SMC Symphonic Band
Published on November 2, 2026 - 11 a.m.
Be careful how you conduct yourself at Southwestern Michigan College’s “Spooktacular” Halloween band concert costume contest.
Win, and your prize is Director of Bands Mark Hollandsworth’s baton, for you must mount his podium to conduct the Symphonic Band and choir members through SMC’s alma mater, “Here’s to Thee.”
Normally seen speaking for the trees, the Lorax is also known to say things a band director might utter, such as, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
Hollandsworth’s Jazz Ensemble opened its scary fall set with “All Dem Leaves,” featuring soloists Hector Salguero of Watervliet, trombone; Gavin Dibble of Constantine, tenor saxophone; and Andrew Culver of Three Rivers and Annalis Ramos of Bangor, alto saxophones.
“Over the Rainbow” from the Wizard of Oz — Dorothy Gale from Kansas was in the house playing flute in Symphonic Band — became a trumpet ballad spotlighting Kaylee Vette of Lawton and Brayden Rice of Cassopolis. The entire trumpet section appeared to be on loan from the AARP.
Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” also featured Rice and Culver on solos.
Closing the set was Horace Silver’s “The Jody Grind,” with Joe Rizzo of Niles and Corey Matthews of Three Rivers stepping out on tenor saxophone and guitar, respectively.
Matthews, dressed as wrestler Hulk Hogan, won the musician portion of the costume contest before the Symphonic Band took the stage in the theatre of the Dale A. Lyons Building.
The Symphonic Band delivered “Malleus Maleficarum” about witchcraft, Danny Elfman’s “This is Halloween” from Tim Burton’s 1993 The Nightmare Before Christmas, “This Cruel Moon” and “The Inferno,” a musical descent through Dante’s Nine Circles of Hell.
