By Emi Lutz 2024
The Fabulous Mustangs, now in its second year, is Mount Vernon Upper School’s Premier Performing group organized by Music Director Vann Thornton. The group is student-led by seniors Maggie Sims, Will Jackson, and Miller Woodall, with the members choosing songs and having input into the arrangements. Their most recent performance was an Open Mic Night featuring the core Mustangs group with performances by our strings programs, the Vernon Vocals, and individual musicians.
The Fabulous Mustangs will continue their performances with their upcoming performance at the annual Christmas Showcase with special guests the Vernon Vocals and MV Strings.
The Fabulous Mustangs is a popular music ensemble not bound by style, but by the directions, the students want to explore. The band plays songs that range from a grunge-rock rendition of Kendrick Lamar’s “Humble” to a jazzy version of “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse.
Fabulous Mustangs members are selected by auditions each May to have a spot for the following school year. Anyone who plays an instrument no matter their experience performing with a group is encouraged to try out. The group is around 12 members. The group consists of Drums, Bass, Guitars, Keyboards, Wind Instruments, and Vocalists. Our longest-tenured member, Will Jackson, also Tri-M honor society president, has helped grow the student leadership in the music program and works hard to keep the Fabulous Mustangs band up and running. Students who aren’t selected are encouraged to join our Chapel band and Vernon Vocals to gain the experience needed for the group.
This year, the band has once again been invited to perform at the only Music-Industry Conference of its kind at Troy University. Plans are underway to travel to Troy at the end of April and add a two-day tour of Memphis, TN, the home of Elvis, and the Rock and Soul Hall of Fame. “It is important for us to discover together the roots of the music we love, play, and listen to every day, and to pay tribute to those who laid the way for us to have such an experience,” Thornton said.
We are excited about the great things to come!