Concerts showcase talents of middle and upper school musicians

Middle and upper school musicians delighted audiences last week at a pair of concerts. The talents of grade 6 were showcased at WinterFest on Jan. 16, which featured the Grade 6 Jazz Band and Orchestra, directed by music teacher Naoki Taniguchi. The Jazz Band kicked off the show with performances of “Freddie Freeloader” by Miles Davis and “Killer Joe” by Benny Golson. The Grade 6 Orchestra entertained the crowd with renditions of the themes from the “Star Wars” and “James Bond” film series. The grade 6 choir Dynamics then made a special appearance before the finale, which featured a huge assemblage of all sixth grade music students

At the following evening’s Winter Instrumental Concert, the upper school’s Lab Band, Jazz Band and Orchestra performed at the Rothschild Performing Arts Center. Led by Taniguchi, the Lab Band performed a series of jazz works by Duke Ellington, Fred Sturm, Mark Filsinger and Sonny Rollins. Music teacher Dave Hart directed the Jazz Band, which performed works by Eddie Harris and Dizzy Gillespie, as well as a jazzed-up rendition of Coldplay’s “Yellow.” The Orchestra, also directed by Hart, finished the evening with works by George Gershwin, Pablo de Sarasate, Schubert and Camille Saint-Saens.

January 22, 2020Tags: eweekly, Performing Arts