Showing posts with label Jazz Band. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jazz Band. Show all posts

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Tis the Season for Spring Concerts

The Pottsgrove Middle School Orchestra during the Holiday concert, director Will Einhorn.


Like the flowers, the April showers and tree pollen, spring brings many things.

And one of the more enjoyable of them are school district spring concerts.

With a son in the band and jazz band at Pottstown High School, I attended the spring concert on Tuesday, April 29.

But before we get to videos from that performance, a note from Will Einhorn, director of the
The Pottsgrove Middle School Orchestra performed at the
Coventry Mall over the holidays.
orchestra at Pottsgrove Middle School:
I would like to cordially invite you to The Pottsgrove Middle School Orchestra's Spring Concert next Wednesday May 7th. 
This concert will be taking place at 7:30 p.m/ in the PGMS Auditorium.
Our concert will feature a wide variety of classical, show tunes, and pop music. 
Some of those selections include "Over the Rainbow" from Wizard of Oz, and "Viva La Vida" by Coldplay. 
This year the orchestra is at 70 members which is the largest group we have had in many years and next year we are projecting 80-85 members. 
This is not possible without your continuous support of the music program. The students and I thank you for this and all that you do and would love to see you there if possible.
Indeed, the music program in the Pottsgrove School District is growing by leaps and bounds -- so much so that one of the major aspects of the $28 million high school renovation is to expand space for music programs.

And if you would like to hear how they sound, here is a video of their performance of Handel's Hallelujah Chorus, presumably from the Holiday Concert in December.




As for Pottstown's concert, I was happy to be able to enjoy some of the Concert Choir and Show Choir performances, which I don't often get to see.

Here is a segment of the Concert Choir singing "Abraham, Martin and John."



And here is their final number, "Shenandoah," a personal favorite of mine.



In the intervening time, the Flute and Clarinet ensembles played, but without their beloved director, Nancy Mest, who broke her arm and is recovering from surgery, so I sent her a shout-out.:




The concert band played something unusual, a Native American-inspired piece named "Songs of Earth, Water, Fire and Sky," which featured Pottstown School Board member Ron Williams, who is part Apache, in Native American dress reading a creation myth narrative while the band played.

Here is how it began:



Then the Concert Band fulfilled a long-expressed wish of Public Relations Coordinator John Armato, by playing a medley of Blues Brothers tunes. (But John missed the performance. Lucky for him, it is one of the few performances I recorded in its entirety. You're welcome John.)




The Show Choir, which dances (who knew?), then did an old Jackson 5 number:




Which was followed by a surprise performance by James Rodgers, Nicholas Parsons, Randy Mercado and Dylan Mauger, the male members of the Show Choir, who sang "Just My Imagination."




Finally, my old favorite, the Pottstown Jazz Band took the spotlight and debuted a new song, "Zoot Suit Riot," which I have posted in full here, given that it is a new number.


Friday, April 26, 2013

Culture Club

It's that time of the year, when a school year's worth of work (or at least a semester's worth) goes on display.

In the coming days, the Pottstown school district will offer a number of opportunities to enjoy that work and a bit of culture, in the form of music and food.

(Just add wine and you've got most of what life's worth living for! ... sorry no alcohol at school district events.)

The first cultural event next week will be held Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the high school cafeteria.

The school district's Diversity Committee  will host a FREE (yes, you read that right, we're talking free food and entertainment  people) "Flavors of the World event. 

Come sample food from other cultures prepared by the district's culinary arts students for Flavors of the World!

Enjoy multicultural entertainment from 5:45 p.m. to 6 p.m., which will include: 
  • African Dancers from Pottstown Dance Theatre from 6 to 6:15 p.m.;  
  • Latino Dancers from CCLU (Centro Cultural Latinos Unidos) from 6:15 to 6:30 p.m. 
  • Irish Dancers from Pottstown Dance Theatre starting at 6:30 p.m.
After "Flavors" visitors can stay and enjoy the PHS Band/Choir concert at 7 p.m. in the auditorium.

The free, open to the public concert featuring all of the Pottstown High School performing groups will feature the following high school performing groups:
  • Jazz Band; 
  • Flute and Clarinet Ensembles; 
  • Pop Vocal Ensemble; 
  • Concert Choir;
  • Concert Band. 
Mr. Vought and the Pottstown High School Jazz Band performed 
most recently at the Spaghetti and Jazz Band fundraiser at
the Goodwill Fire Co.
All senior musicians will be recognized at the end of the concert. 

And if that wasn't enough for you, lets add music and dance.,

The next evening, on May 1st at Pottstown High School, the school district will showcase its band students.

At 7 p.m. the night will start with the Beginner Band which is comprised of beginning fourth and fifth grade students from all five elementary schools. 

Following the Beginner Band is the Elementary Brass Quintet which has just returned from their performance in Harrisburg for Music in our Schools Month.

The night will not be complete without an appearance from the Elementary Jazz Band which will be playing four selections featuring some of the hardest working students in the elementary schools. 

Closing the night is the All-City Band which is made of second year musicians in fifth grade. 

These students will be playing two selections by world famous composer Robert W. Smith as well as a march that will get your foot tapping. 

If you are looking for a glimpse at future marching Trojans, here is your opportunity.

But wait, there's still more! 

If you're still hankering for more jazz band, or maybe you missed the very successful April 20 Spaghetti and Jazz Dinner, the Pottstown High School Jazz Band will be performing for your entertainment and for dancers at The Ballroom On High on Friday, May 10. 

Dance lessons begin at 8 p.m., dancing begins at 9 p.m., and the PHS Jazz Band will perform at 9:30 p.m. 

Admission is $12 for adults and $7 for full-time students. 

The Ballroom On High is at 310 East High Street in Pottstown. Come on out for a great evening of music and dancing from the golden age of "Swing". 

If you would like a preview of the skills on hand for the high school jazz band performance, check out this video of their performance at the Daniel Boone Jazz Band Festival in March, available to all on the great Pottstownbands You Tube Channel.