By Ashlyn Armock, Arts Editor
Sunday, March 1 at 3 p.m., the music department held a concert called the Winter Instrumental Showcase with all three of the instrumental groups: College Concert Band, Jazz Band and Chamber Strings–performing.
The other instrumentalists getting ready to join chamber strings for their performance of Symphony No. 2 – Photo by Ashlyn Armock
The program began with Chamber Strings, under the conduction of Joseph Opera, performing two pieces, the first of which being Galop (from Petite Suite) by Georges Bizet and arranged by Robert Frost. The second piece was a combination of Chamber Strings with a small orchestra consisting of both Eliana Mandarano and Nevaeh Porter on clarinet, Reid May on french horn and Dr. Thomas Polett on trombone. The piece was all three movements of Symphony No. 2: I. Allegro Presto, II. Andante and III. Presto, which was composed by Joseph Bologne De Saint-Georges and arranged by Jamin Hoffman.
The second group to perform was the College Concert Band with the first piece, Encanto by Robert W. Smith, being conducted by Ted Craig.
Ted Craig conducting the College Band as they play through Encanto – Photo by Ashlyn Armock
“I was able to stay for the first part of the band with my niece and she absolutely loved it,” Senior and member of Chamber Strings Anna-Marie Comden said. “She was very entranced with it, so they did a good job.”
The College Band’s next two pieces were conducted by Dr. Polett included the Salvonic Folk Suite, movements 1. Children’s Carol and 2. Cathedral Chorus, by Alfred Reed as well as The Cave You Fear by Michael Markowski.
Ted Craig warming up the band – Photo by Ashlyn Armock
When asked about her favorite part of the concert, Zoebelle Bean expressed her admiration for the whole band playing together. “It was huge and they had this two-part piece that was really elegantly put together,” Bean said.
After a brief intermission and rearrangement of the stage, the Jazz Band, led by Dr. Polett was ready to perform their first piece, an upbeat swing tune called In Your Own Sweet Way by Dave Brubeck.
“I went to the concert because I wanted to support my friends,” senior Mark Musgrave said. “Aquinas has a really good Jazz Band and they sang an arrangement of Blue Skies that I was really excited to see, especially the vocalist.”
The piece that included freshman vocalist Lauren Espy was Blue Skies by Irving Berlin which not only included vocals but a solo from Sergio Alejos on tenor saxophone as well as other improvised solos from members of the band. The Jazz Band’s piano player, Brennan McKinney also mentioned Blue Skies was his favorite song to solo over.
The Jazz Band performing Blue Skies – Photo by Nevaeh Porter
When asked about some of his favorite moments, Musgrave commented on how enjoyable he found a lot of the soloists. “[Especially] the saxophone players, Sergio Alejos and Shawni Thelen. They improvised a few solos and they were fantastic as well as everyone else.”
Bean also spoke about coming to the performance because of her admiration for the performing arts.
“I especially love the Jazz Band because I love the solo performances that litter each piece,” Bean said. “The Jazz Band is also so integrated and every member looks like they’re having such a good time just doing what they love.”
The Jazz Band closed the showcase with a piece titled Livin’ Larger Than Life by Alan Baylock with soloists Weber on alto saxophone and Kyle Devine, normally a trombone player, on the drums.
Future dates for an array of concerts from the music department can be found in the link below:
https://www.aquinas.edu/academics/music/concerts-and-events.html
The Saint 