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Arts & Entertainment

Knollwood Music Department Sings, Swings and Strings Winter Concert

Local music director describes his experience at the school's winter concert.

Oh, the weather outside was frightful, but the spirit inside delightful. Students in the music program at the Knollwood School, working together in six bands and three combos performed their annual winter program Tuesday night to a packed house of appreciative listeners.

There is nothing quite like seeing and hearing young students perform a program of music they have worked hard preparing all year. The energy among the performers and the audience was palpable.

After rising for the eighth grade bands heartfelt rendition of the National Anthem, the Jazz Band, led by director Sara Marina, took the stage and opened with a challenging blues line by legendary saxophonist Sonny Rollins, "Doxy".

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Eighth grade trumpeter Andrew Murphy, a constant and solid presence throughout the evening, played the melody and improvised a strong solo on the rhythmically quirky number, giving way to a soulful guitar solo by Stephen Appezzato that was reminiscent of early work by the great guitarist of the iconic 60's rock group the Doors, Robbie Krieger. Stephen's brother Chris took the spotlight from his drum set on "Gonna Fly Now" the theme from Rocky, with hard hitting fills that inspired the crowd.

Next up, director Vincent Mottern's Glee Club/Chorus performed a rather brilliant and complex arrangement by Mottern of John Lennon's "Imagine" juxtaposed with "Silent Night". The young ladies in the Chorus sang confidently and beautifully on this creative number, as well as the traditional "Joyful Israeli Cannon" and another timely Lennon piece "Happy Christmas/War Is Over".

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A new Knollwood music group, the Men's Chorus, literally rocked the room with a rousing rendition of "Wavin' Flag", described by director Mottern as "a piece sung in victory at soccer games." The young men singers also had some good, clean fun with "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch".  

Back to the instrumental portion of the program, the Fifth Grade Band, consisting of flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trumpets, trombones and percussion worked through a trio of holiday and classical compositions, highlighted by the opener "Chanukah, Chanukah" with contributions from percussionist Ryan Gerbman.

Miss Marina gave the stage to her colleague Mel Chayette, the school's Orchestra Director, and the student string players, an impressive group including twelve violins, five violas, two cellos and three basses. They performed "Hanukkah Favorites", an arrangement of three Hanukkah melodies by noted composer and arranger Lennie Niehaus.

They also played "Whispering Winter Pines". Chayette described the song as, "Just 'O,Christmas Tree' in a pretty setting." It was pretty indeed, and interesting to hear the familiar melody on the double basses of Adam Peters, Charlie Barnes and Sasha Green over the lush accompaniment of the orchestra.

Before the group closed with the timeless "Sleigh Ride", director Chayette reminded the audience that, "We were in danger of losing the string program last year, but thanks to your support we're still going strong." Bravo, and that's one for the arts in New Jersey education. Hopefully, that trend will continue in Fair Haven and throughout the Garden State.

The forty five member Concert Band, also under the direction of Marina, closed the concert deftly with "Hanukkah Holiday", the renaissance "Celtic Air and Dance" and the holiday staple "Jingle Bell Rock" a feature for the eight piece percussion section.

A pat on the back for a job well done is well deserved for the students and their teachers after this terrific performance. 

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