When a group of academics got together to play at Nichols Hall recently, the results were anything but academic. The four veteran musicians of the Eastman School of Music Faculty Jazz Quartet opened the 2015-16 season of the Harker Concert Series on Nov. 6. Prior to the evening show, the quartet gave a wonderful morning performance for students and, the next day, held a three-hour master class for students.
The group, as its name indicates, comprises faculty members at the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music. All masters in their own right, their credentials have led them to stints with the likes of Tito Puente, Chet Baker and Buddy Rich. They have been playing together for more than 15 years.
Having played with quite a few of them, the quartet harbor a healthy respect for the greats, evident in the choice to begin with the evening with Duke Ellington’s “I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart,” immediately elevated by trumpeter Clay Jenkins’ buoyant melodies and pianist Harold Danko’s tasteful comping, drummer Rich Thompson quietly dominating his space on the stage. Danko’s bluesy solo cleared the way for an effortless bass solo by Jeff Campbell, with the trumpet returning for the outro.
The next tune, the Thompson-penned “Less is More,” saw the band cruising through an infectious three-four stride, driven along by Campbell’s strolling bass, providing what might be a delightful soundtrack to an afternoon walk through the city at twilight, preferably after a good rain.
Danko opened the next number with an extended intro of unaccompanied chords that fell in sheets, making way for a Campbell bass solo that had Jenkins wearing one of many trance-like expressions he showed during the evening. He followed with a virtuosic and tuneful solo that led gracefully into another Danko-led section, this one less busy, gathering momentum for a thrilling finish that Jenkins punctuated with a sustained note.
The band would return to the greats later in the set, treating Thelonious Monk’s “Holiday in San Francisco” with the delicacy and experimentation unique to the beloved prodigy, as Danko took a number of mid-solo detours, in line with the Monk canon. Jenkins’ trumpet solo wavered between plaintive and explosive as Campbell provided sparse accompaniment. Campbell would add, after the song had concluded, “I often wonder what that trip was like,” eliciting some – perhaps unexpectedly loud – laughter from the audience.
The group closed the set with a Jenkins riff on a Tommy Dorsey chord progression, titled “Work First” (as it was based on Dorsey’s “Opus 1”), introducing stomping, upbeat drum rolls and a lively, playful melody. Each solo carried with it a distinct sense of fun and adventure, as well as a clear sense of one another’s abilities. Perhaps no one onstage was having more fun than Thompson, however, who traded solos with this bandmates en route to the finale, which ended with Jenkins holding the last note, possibly one of the softest exclamation points in recent memory.
San Jose Mercury News, Nov. 18, 2015 — Senior Sadhika Malladi and alumna Nitya Mani ’15 both received mayoral commendations for their outstanding projects showcased at the most recent Synopsys Science and Technology Championship.
SikhNet, Oct. 26, 2015 — Ameek Singh, grade 12, is featured in a story about Kids Tutoring Free, a tutoring service the he founded.
San Jose Mercury News, Oct. 15, 2015 – Senior Vineet Kosaraju is mentioned in the paper’s “School Scene” for being named a 2015 Davidson Fellow.
San Jose Mercury News, Oct. 8, 2015 – The Varsity Extra Highlight Reel recognized Shannon Richardson, grade 12, for her 18 kills in Harker’s 3-0 win against Menlo.
San Jose Mercury News, Sept. 30, 2015 – Harker girls volleyball reached the Mercury News Top 15. At the time, the team had a 6-6 record, only losing to ranked teams.
Once again Harker held a schoolwide Howard Nichols Cookie Day in honor of the late former head of school’s birthday on Oct. 10.
That day, the preschool, lower and middle schools all held special assemblies and handed out chocolate chip cookies in his memory. The upper school followed suit the following Monday.
The annual tradition celebrates Nichols’ inspirational values that continue to drive the spirit and growth of The Harker School. All four campuses celebrated by having trays of cookies located in various places around school. Nichols, who was known for his sweet tooth, regularly kept a full jar of cookies and other confections in his office that were a hit with visitors.
Nichols was the president of Harker from 1973 until his retirement in 2005. He attended the Palo Alto Military Academy, which was run by his father, Major Donald Nichols. Eventually the Palo Alto Military Academy merged with Miss Harker’s School for Girls and became The Harker School. A memorial to him can be found in the quad on the upper school campus.
It was Howard Nichols and his wife, Diana, whose vision saw the founding of the upper school and the acquisition of the Blackford and Bucknall campuses.
“We honor his warm heart and loving spirit by enjoying chocolate chip cookies each year on that day,” recalled Alana Butler, middle school dean.
Sunday was a banner day for people from throughout the Harker community, who arrived at the middle school campus in droves for the 65th annual Harker Family & Alumni Picnic. The carnival games were, as always, a popular attraction, offering attendees the chance to throw rings around bottles, fling stuffed frogs, tip tombstones and more.
Harker faculty and staff worked the booths, making sure a great time was had by all. “It’s always fun to see all the teachers behind the booths,” said Amy Wardenburg ’13, who also said she enjoys returning to see old friends.
One of last year’s most popular attractions, the zip line, again had attendees soaring through the air, while the new Hamster Dash put festival-goers in a large plastic ball that they moved across a track by running on all fours.
The crowd swelled in front of the middle school amphitheater for the afternoon show, which featured several of Harker’s talented performing arts groups in a Halloween-themed spectacular, singing and dancing to songs such as “Thriller” and “Monster Mash.”
“I love seeing everyone in a different context having a lot of fun,” said Pauline Paskali, upper school English department chair. “I also love seeing old students who come back.”
Following the day’s festivities, head of school Chris Nikoloff sent a message to the Harker community to express his gratitude to all involved in making the event a success. “In an age when everyone is living fast-paced, plugged-in lives, a day of relaxation, play and human connection is both needed and precious,” he said. “Our deep gratitude to Danae McLaughlin [director of special events] for her vision and diligence in putting together, along with her team of volunteers, a truly memorable day for the community.”
A blustery early autumn evening set the stage for Harker’s 2015 Homecoming celebration, and the football team turned it into a great night with a 23-13 hard-fought win. This year’s Homecoming saw people from across the Harker community gather at the upper school campus to cheer on the Harker Eagles football squad as it faced off against Santa Cruz at Davis Field. In addition to the game, Homecoming offered a chance for Harker community members – be they students, parents, alumni, faculty or staff – to enjoy a fun evening of socializing and reminiscing.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for the whole community to get together,” said Jennifer Gargano, assistant head of school for academic affairs. “From preschool to the high school, everyone can come together as one community, to support our students in the game, but also in the various ways that they’re participating, whether it’s musically or through cheer or selling pizza.”
Attendees began arriving in droves as early as two hours before the 7 p.m. kickoff, enjoying a variety of foods from Ms. Carley’s Café and a delicious array prepared by the Harker kitchens – the staff had been at work since 7 a.m. preparing for the big event – alongside pizza and candy sold by Harker students. Lower, middle and upper school campuses had tables filled with confections and chips for parents and students to snack on, while Harker Alumni had a special area with white linen and great food, which enjoyed a steady stream of visitors. “It’s really exciting, and everyone’s having fun,” said Elizabeth Yang, grade 9, who was selling candy to raise funds for her class.
Prior to the game, the early arrivals enjoyed special performances by Harker’s junior cheerleaders and the time-honored Eaglets Fly-By. Just before the game, several of Harker’s vocal groups, directed by lower school performing arts teacher Carena Montany, sang “The Harker School Song” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The Harker School Orchestra supplied its usual accompaniment and the varsity cheerleaders maintained a steady blast of cheerful encouragement from the sidelines.
The first half of the game was hotly contested, with Santa Cruz reaching the endzone early, followed by a strong answer from Harker, which scored a safety and a touchdown to take a 9-6 lead at halftime.
During the halftime, Harker’s cheer squad and varsity dancers gave energetic, crowd-pleasing performances. Shortly after, this year’s homecoming court took the field, with seniors Edward Sheu and Stephanie Huang named the 2015 Homecoming King and Queen.
In the second half, both teams pushed hard. Santa Cruz took back the lead to make it 13-9. Push literally came to shove in the fourth quarter as each team pushed their luck on fourth-down situations trying to hang on to the ball to get a drive going. Finally, with 10:40 remaining in the game, Harker marched up the field and added 7 to make it 16-13. For the next eight minutes the crowd was on the edge of their seats knowing if Santa Cruz found the right gap the score would reverse, again.
Indeed, the ball changed hands several times, but neither team was able to capitalize until very late in the fourth quarter when Harker put paid to the match with a great run to make it 23-13 with less than two minutes left. Harker D was fired up and bottled up Santa Cruz, nailing the lid on the win. Great night out with a big, lively crowd! Check Facebook and Instagram for photos and video clips from the game, and search on #harkerhomecoming in both sites for a gallery of photos and clips. (Feel free to hashtag your own homecoming photos to add to the gallery!) This story will be updated with a photo gallery as well on Monday. Huge congrats to the football team including coaching, training and other support staff for a great, well-fought game! Go Eagles!
This article originally appeared in the fall 2015 Harker Quarterly.
Last spring, a new two-building design for the athletic and performing arts complex on the Saratoga campus was announced during Harker’s Night on the Town gala, following the strong response from the community in meeting the Rothschild Challenge. In addition, a second inspirational match was offered by a generous Harker family who wishes to remain anonymous. With these two historic gifts, plans have been confirmed to break ground in spring 2016. Construction on the complex will begin while the school is in the midst of raising the final $7 million to meet the capital campaign’s goal. The exact completion date will be influenced by the ability to reach that goal. Should the objective be met, a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be planned for fall 2017.
New Two-Building Design
The two-building design will include outstanding facilities for learning and allow for plenty of green open space, enabling the buildings to integrate seamlessly with the rest of the campus. In addition, a central quad has been added where students can gather during the day, adding to the already collegiate feel of the school. This new feature will help preserve the current amount of parking spaces and allow Harker to push the parking toward the back wall facing Interstate 280, helping to increase the safety of students walking through campus as well as minimizing noise pollution.
Currently, upper school athletes and performing arts students need to be shuttled to the middle school’s Blackford Avenue campus – and even off-site to larger theater venues – for games and performances. The new design is a necessary step toward planning for the eventual transition out of the Blackford Avenue campus lease, so that upper school students have facilities on their own campus.
Athletics Building
The planned two-floor athletics building has features including a training room, fitness room, hydrotherapy room, team and locker rooms, and a regulation-size gymnasium. An added benefit to the redesign is the close proximity of the athletics building to Davis Field and the Singh Aquatic Center. Students will no longer have to walk across the parking lot from the locker room to other athletic facilities. The new gym will also cultivate school pride as students can go and watch sporting events happening right on campus.
Performing Arts Building
The new performing arts center incorporates much-needed features such as a fly loft and larger professional stage, which will allow students to produce higher quality performances worthy of their skill and ability. The center also includes an orchestra pit, a large rehearsal space, medium and large vocal rooms and a scene shop. A unique element of the performing arts center will be a gallery space to showcase students’ visual arts pieces.
Together, ‘Let’s Make It Happen!
The new performing arts and sports complex is a much-needed addition to the upper school campus. Not only will it serve performing art and student athletics, but also other schoolwide and public events, including the research symposium, Harker Speaker Series, and business and entrepreneurship programs.
Last fall, a historic $10 million challenge from the Rothschild family was announced. This gift matched any contributions made to the capital campaign for the new performing arts and sports complex.
Recently a Harker family, who had already given $3 million to help Harker meet the Rothschild Challenge, was inspired by the response of the school community to the challenge. In addition to their first gift, the family decided to make an inspirational matching pledge of $7 million. They wanted to go a step above and inspire other families to join them, and now they want to provide additional families with the same opportunity to double the impact of their capital gifts.
Families who did not have the opportunity to increase their support during the limited six month period that the Rothschild Challenge was in effect will now be able to do so. This might include families who are new to the school or who have decided to make an additional gift to the capital campaign now that the complex is set for construction and the benefits are in sight.
“As they sat down to complete the paperwork for their contribution, the father could not contain his excitement and exclaimed, ‘Let’s make it happen!’ – so we are calling this last appeal for this campaign the ‘Let’s Make It Happen’ phase,” explained Joe Rosenthal, executive director of advancement.
How Does the Campaign Work?
For any family who participates in the annual campaign, and also makes a gift to the capital campaign, the donor will match the amount of the capital campaign donation, dollar for dollar up to $7 million. Contributions will have a positive impact now and for the future of The Harker School, further solidifying its place among the finest independent schools in the nation.
For updates and information about giving to the capital campaign, please visit www.harker.org/giving/capital-giving.
Beginning in June 2016 Harker launched two new state-of-the art building projects on the upper school campus, the result of a $45M capital campaign. The 33,000 square-foot athletic center, opening August 2017, features a 12,000 sq.-ft. gym, athletic training room with advanced hydrotherapy unit, and spacious team rooms. The Rothschild Performing Arts Center, opening spring of 2018, features a 450-seat theater with fly loft and hydraulic orchestra pit, a state of the art scene shop, vocal, instrumental, theater/musical theater classrooms and dressing rooms. For more information visit the news and video links below or contact communications@harker.org
This article originally appeared in the fall 2015 Harker Quarterly.
Junior Edward Oh, a cellist with The Harker School Orchestra, spent late June and early July touring Europe with the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, performing in amazing venues in six cities including Milan, Berlin and Amsterdam. “We were extremely privileged to play in the Berlin Philharmonie and the Amsterdam Concertgebouw,” exclaimed Oh.
Oh, who has been playing the cello for more than a decade, looked back on the trip fondly and expressed gratitude at having such a unique opportunity. “The tour itself was a tremendous opportunity for me to not only perform in grand venues, but to also gain an invaluable amount of experience in orchestral playing,” he said.
When they weren’t rehearsing or performing, members of the youth orchestra enjoyed sightseeing.
“A trip to Europe is something some people can only hope to dream of and I am eternally grateful to my parents and mentors for assisting me,” Oh added.
This article originally appeared in the fall 2015 Harker Quarterly.
In August, pianist Andrew Semenza, grade 10, spent two weeks at the Beijing International Music Festival and Academy (BIMFA), where he took part in a master class, received private lessons, played with a chamber music group and performed in numerous concerts.
Semenza was asked to apply for the camp by his private piano teacher, who recently joined the BIMFA faculty. “The festival was not only an opportunity to learn intensively in two weeks, but also a successful cultural exchange where I was able to visit many historical sights and explore the city,” said Semenza. “Overall, it was a very enriching and enjoyable experience musically and culturally.”
This article originally appeared in the fall 2015 Harker Quarterly.
In mid-August, Nathan Liu, grade 4, and Tiffany Zhao, grade 9, traveled to Germany to play piano at the Sulzbach-Rosenberg Interna- tional Music Festival.
During a student concert held in the town hall and open to the public, Liu and Zhao played a duet (a Brahms waltz) together, in addition to doing solo performances. Liu had the distinction of being the youngest musician invited to the festival.
While in Germany both Liu and Zhao were able to learn skills from many top international musicians, as well as spend time at a historic music school which was remodeled from a medieval castle.
“I learned how to cooperate with other musicians, as well as train my ear to listen to other people and play accordingly. It was also a great experience to mentor a younger musician,” Zhao said.
Liu concurred: “I learned a lot from the more experienced musicians. Overall, it was an unforgettable two weeks!”
To view their duet: https://youtu.be/ HUXzL16Fg9M.
This article originally appeared in the fall 2015 Harker Quarterly.
Once again the Harker community will come together in celebration of the fall season and the opening of school at the 65th annual Family & Alumni Picnic, the Harker Harvest Festival. We’re bringing back old favorites and introducing some thrilling new ones. From top-notch student performances in the Harvest Hoedown to exciting games and fabulous food, the picnic offers a day of delights for all ages!
Come Celebrate Fall-o-Ween!
On this day, faculty and staff come together to put on a fantastic day of fun for Harker families. Take part in some old-fashioned fun with field games like sack races, spoon races and more.
Or challenge your favorite teachers to Ping-Pong, foosball or basketball in the Teachers’ Clubhouse (located in the gym). Guests of all ages will enjoy a variety of fun carnival games.
In recent years we’ve added laser tag and Witch’s Flight, the 300-foot zip line. This year challenge your friends to a Hamster Dash (yes, you guessed right: try to run in a hamster ball!). Tickets may be purchased online.
Everyone loves a pumpkin patch, the place to pick out a perfect Halloween decoration for your house. Ours will again be located right next to the dedicated preschool area, which will have age- appropriate games and activities for our youngest picnic-goers.
You also won’t want to miss our super silent auction. Along with the fantastic teacher packages, vacations and more, we will have sign-ups for the lower school sleepover (a popular tradition). This year all bidding will be online, and we’ll be opening the auction three weeks before the picnic to give you plenty of time to place your best bids!
Costumes Welcome
With our “Fall-o-Ween” theme, this year’s event wouldn’t be complete without cute and creepy costumes. Wear your favorite and take part in our spooktacular costume parade, right after the student performances. Prizes will be awarded at the end of the picnic.
Feast” Your Eyes (and Taste Buds)
In addition to favorites such as grilled items, pizza, Brown Chicken Brown Cow and Arka Indian cuisine, this year you can enjoy food from an authentic taqueria. Food trucks will offer ice cream, gourmet hot dogs and other American classics. Save room to sample all the goodies!
Don’t “Leaf” Anyone at Home!
Admission for adults and children 3 and older is $10 each if purchased online by Oct. 2. Children younger than 3 and grownups over 75 are free. Admission is $15 at the entrance on picnic day. Admission includes the Harvest Hoedown, field games and activities in the Teachers’ Clubhouse.
Our Awesome Alumni In Autumn
Our alumni barbecue luncheon has become a tradition all its own, drawing record numbers each year. This gathering takes place from noon to 1 p.m. in the shady alumni grove following the Harvest Hoedown and welcomes Harker alumni young and old. More information on admission and activities for alumni is available on the picnic website: www.harker.org/picnic.
Harvest Hashtag
Calling all Twitter and Instagram users! Hashtag your Harker Harvest Festival Facebook and Instagram posts #harkerharvest and everyone will have access to a great collection of photos and comments from this fun event!
Everything Online this Year
New this year are the pre-sale family packages; we offer a variety of packages to choose from to ensure a fun-filled day for the whole family. These packages, along with individual admission passes, carnival tickets, T-shirts and laser tag tickets are available for purchase online at www.harker. org/picnic until Oct. 2. These items (except T-shirts) will also be available for purchase the day of the event.
Our exciting silent auction also will be online this year; we will open the bidding three weeks before the picnic. This means that you’ll be able to set your maximum bid on items and will be notified on your mobile phone if you are outbid. And if you can’t be at the picnic when the auction closes, you can still participate in the final bidding using your phone. Check the picnic website for information about registering for the auction.
Thanks to Our Harvest helpers
We want to recognize our devoted picnic committee members, teachers and staff who have helped to create an event that appeals to our entire community. We are grateful for their hard work, amazing creativity, dedication and team spirit!