by Reinesse Wong
The Irvington Middle and High School Chorus, Band, and Orchestra performed for audiences in their long awaited Winter Concerts on December 4th, 10th, and 12th.
The middle school and high school band kicked off the first of the winter performances on December 4th, playing a variety of holiday and traditional music. Directed by Mr. Scattaretico, the middle school started off the concert, playing “Hallelujah”, “Born to be Wild”, “Pink Panther”, and “Spirit of the Bells”.
Directed by Ms. McCumber, jazz ensemble performed next, featuring soloists Ryder Mollo, Alicia Sang, Will Leitner, Josh Hunt, Isai Andrade, and Josh Aronson. Wind Ensemble, which performed at Metlife earlier that day, played a holiday song called “Sleigh Ride”. The concert concluded with a combined performance of the song “Happy” by the middle and high school students.
“I think this year’s winter concert was incredible. I love the combined concert in the winter mostly because you can see the student growth from 6th all the way up through 12th. It’s a great way for all students to see and hear those changes,” said Ms. McCumber.
The MS/HS Orchestra performed next, on December 10th at 7:30 pm, directed by Mr. Calvaresi. Middle schoolers started first, playing a selection of festive holiday favorites like “Snowday Celebration” and “Holiday Bells.” The IHS musicians played next, performing traditional songs like “Inverno” and “Toccatina”. The concert concluded with a combined song “Somewhere in my Memory” with both the middle and high school musicians. Mr. Calvaresi’s first concert at Irvington was what he considered “a great experience.”
Mr. Calvaresi said, “Not only was the concert a musical success, but it was a personal milestone, as it marked the first performance of a high school group under my direction. It was very encouraging to see so much community support by way of hearty attendance in the campus theater. Now that we have one performance under our belts, I feel that the necessary and harmonious relationships between ensemble and director, are truly starting to take shape.”
The chorus also performed on December 12th. The Middle School chorus sang “Snow Is Falling” by Ruth Elaine Schram and the South African folk song “Bhombela” by Will Skaff. The high school concert choir sang “Samson” by Georg Frideric Handel, “The Handsome Butcher,” and “The Old Woman.” The High School Chorale performed next, singing, “S’vivon,” “Christmas Time Is Here” from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” by Mendelson and Guaraldi the concert concluded with a joint performance with the high school and middle school in a song called “The Sleigh.”
Ms. Gillespie, who directed the high school choir was very proud of the students and said, “The students worked really hard and they exceeded my expectations.”
