Lights, Drums, Action: The Passions of Emily Lovell

Emily Lovell, a percussionist in the Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School Marching Band and lighting director for the theater department, is extremely passionate about the arts.

“I started drumming at age ten. I was always tapping my fingers, so my mom, who is a piano teacher, gave me a drum, and I haven’t put it down yet,” said Lovell. “At first I was hesistant to join the marching band. I’m so glad I did because it has definitely helped me socially in school. The band is now like one big happy family.”

Lovell enjoys many types of music, but her favorite group is the hard rock band Avenged Seven Fold, particularly because of their late drummer, James Sullivan and his amazing technique.

She is also a member of the school’s Percussion Ensemble and played concert toms on “Sketches of the Orient”, “Taiko Night”, “Scamper” and a crowd pleasing hand clapping piece at the recent chamber music concert.

Seeing a performance of the Broadway musical “Wicked” was an early inspiration for Lovell and got her started in the theater department. “The music was great and the set was phenomenal. That’s when I began to really learn about all the behind the scenes stuff of the theater. I started in sixth grade and became the backstage director. A lot of marching band people do tech crew work on school plays, so it’s always fun to work with your friends,” she explained.

Lovell’s professional aspirations lie in the theater as well. “I would like to be a lighting director on Broadway and for concerts because it’s such a big part of my life,” she said. Towards that end, Lovell is enrolled in Wagner College on Staten Island in New York where she will join the theater program with a concentration in Design Technology and Management.”

Working on this year’s school production of was a first for Lovell. It was her first year as lighting director and her first time in a major leadership role with the crew. People who saw the play know what an excellent job she and her schoolmates did.

Lovell is proud that her crew was nominated last year for “Best Lighting Design in a Musical” for their version of Fiddler On The Roof.  “We didn’t win, but it was great to be nominated,” said Lovell.

Lovell is hoping for another nomination this year!

Jim Josselyn is a musician, composer, teacher and is currently the director of the Academy of Music and Drama.