Upper School Recital Displays Wide Range of Talent
The Upper School Recital in the choral room of the Oates Theatre on January 26 featured a wide range of talent from the Five Day Strings to the Upper School Flute Ensemble to Camerata to the Upper School Jazz Band. Starting things off was a selection from Corelli's Concerto Grosso, which featured faculty member Connie Tuttle on a beautiful harpsichord generously donated to the school by Mr. and Mrs. Channing J. Martin. Director Helen Coulson led the students through the piece, and then yielded the floor to faculty member Patricia Werrell and the Upper School Flute Ensemble.
Selections by Gossec and Reicha followed, each performed with precision and impressive variance of dynamics, and later in the evening the ensemble would appear again with selections from Bizet and Faure. After their first performance, the flute ensemble yielded the spotlight to two soloists. First up was pianist Jackie Foster, who performed Reverie by Debussy with skill, touch and an appropriate sense of dreaminess. Next up was soprano Debra Brenner, accompanied by faculty member Lisa Pennington, on a French composition by Lauridsen from "Les Chansons des Roses." Brenner's performance was lovely, with fine French accent and a breathtaking upper register.
Collegiate's esteemed Camerata vocal group, conducted by Miss Pennington, performed two numbers, showcasing their vocal talent and tight teamwork. Vivaldi's Gloria from "Gloria Mass" was followed by Sanctus from "German Mass in F" by Schubert, and the crowd clamored for more. Unfortunately, this was just a short sampling, and Camerata gave up the stage to the Upper School Jazz Band for the final portion of the concert.
Director Mike Boyd introduced the first number, "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" as a song from a group he loved to listen to growing up: Chicago. Focusing on the horn charts from that '70s hit, Boyd handed solos around the bandstand. For the last number of the evening, Boyd announced they would play an original blues, composed by the Jazz Band itself, in the tradition of great bands like Count Basie's and Duke Ellington's ensembles. Led off by an infectious cowbell from drummer Ryan Nelson, this spirited blues number featured solos from Jack Bisceglia, Will Ratliff, Dan Myers, Andrew Jeffs, and Stephen Powelson, before Nelson brought things to a rousing close with a solo of his own. The music continues at Oates on Sunday afternoon January 29 with a solo piano recital which is sure to provide more evidence of the estimable talent within the halls of Collegiate, and the dedicated work of the Music Department faculty.
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Collegiate's esteemed Camerata vocal group, conducted by Miss Pennington, performed two numbers, showcasing their vocal talent and tight teamwork. Vivaldi's Gloria from "Gloria Mass" was followed by Sanctus from "German Mass in F" by Schubert, and the crowd clamored for more. Unfortunately, this was just a short sampling, and Camerata gave up the stage to the Upper School Jazz Band for the final portion of the concert.
Director Mike Boyd introduced the first number, "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" as a song from a group he loved to listen to growing up: Chicago. Focusing on the horn charts from that '70s hit, Boyd handed solos around the bandstand. For the last number of the evening, Boyd announced they would play an original blues, composed by the Jazz Band itself, in the tradition of great bands like Count Basie's and Duke Ellington's ensembles. Led off by an infectious cowbell from drummer Ryan Nelson, this spirited blues number featured solos from Jack Bisceglia, Will Ratliff, Dan Myers, Andrew Jeffs, and Stephen Powelson, before Nelson brought things to a rousing close with a solo of his own. The music continues at Oates on Sunday afternoon January 29 with a solo piano recital which is sure to provide more evidence of the estimable talent within the halls of Collegiate, and the dedicated work of the Music Department faculty.
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