Students Prepare for Upcoming Winter Concerts

 

Showcasing the talents of student musicians, these annual performances promise to fill the air with beautiful melodies under the guidance of performing arts faculty Jennifer Carnevale, Katie Meadows, John-Alec Raubeson, Sam Appiah, Caitlin Adler, Gilles Pugatch and Curt Ebersole.

Up first on Sunday, December 15, is the Upper School Winterlight Concert with performances by Dobbs 16, Chamber Music, The 1877: Vocal and Band Editions, Tower Singers, Jazz Band, Contemporary Ensemble and String Ensemble.

The Dobbs 16 lineup includes pieces by Laufey, LP and Rihanna. Tenor voice part captain Alex Carnevale ’25 said the group is ready: “I am looking forward to seeing the other groups perform. I’m also excited to show the audience what we’ve been working on these past few months.”

“The students in this year’s group have meshed well very quickly,” said Jennifer Carnevale, Dobbs 16 director and chair of the Department of Performing Arts. “They have risen to several musical challenges this fall and have come away stronger and tighter as an ensemble.”

Alex added, “Dobbs 16 is like a second family to me, and not only do we make really good music together we have a lot of fun while we’re doing it.”

Curt Ebersole, String Ensemble and Chamber Music director, is proud of how his students have been “putting forth their very best effort” as they tackle works by Chris Bernotas, a local New Jersey composer; an arrangement by Jim Palmer; and a work by Christian A. Williams, a music educator from Georgia.

“The audience can expect a unique concert-going experience,” Jennifer Carnevale said. “The concert is happening in both the Experimental Theater and the Recital Hall; and the entire audience will switch venues at intermission.”

Winterlight begins at 3:00 p.m. on December 15 in the Experimental Theater and Recital Hall in the Fonseca Center.

Waiting in the wings are the middle school students who will close out the season with their annual winter concert on Friday, December 20.

“The musical selections at each grade level tie into the curriculum they learn: Fifth graders perform two opera selections, sixth graders perform two folk songs, seventh grade students perform a traditional drum rhythm from West Africa, and eighth graders perform a piece of American popular music with a student-led band,” explained Katie Meadows, middle school performing arts coordinator. “JCLEF, our middle school jazz band, and MastersSingers will also perform, and there will also be a few eighth grade soloists.”

Sam Appiah, director of JCLEF, is looking forward to what his young jazz musicians will do with their pieces by John Coltrane and Herbie Hancock. “They show up very energetic, and that always comes through in the music they play,” he said. “These students have very good solo ideas, and I've been pleasantly surprised with some of the things that they've been doing.”

One concert highlight for Meadows is the finale that culminates with a traditional round of “Now I Walk In Beauty” sung by all combined choruses as well as middle school alumni.

“The message behind this special tradition is one of gratitude — how thankful we all are to be part of this very intentional community and to honor those who have come before us and will follow after us,” she said.

Mark your calendar for the middle school winter concert on December 20, at 2:00 p.m., in the Fonseca Center Gym.