What’s new in performing arts: Spring music performances kick off

by Nerine Uyanik and Anya Weaver

Music groups perform at United Voices

The United Voices concert was held at 7 p.m. on March 16 at the Mexican Heritage Theater, where singing groups from across three Harker campuses performed a variety of songs. Bucknall Choir, Dynamics, Concert Choir, Harmonics, Vivace, Bel Canto, Camerata, Downbeat and Cantilena all performed two or three songs each.

“I’m really excited to show what we’ve been working on and to sing with everyone else from all the other choirs,” Bel Canto member Tasha Moorjani (9) said.

Jazz musicians perform at An Evening of Jazz

Jazz musicians from the Middle and Upper Schools performed at An Evening of Jazz on March 17 at the Blackford campus.

“It’s not as stressful as an orchestra performance, where you know you’ve got to get it a certain way,” Jazz Band director Chris Florio said. “You just try to fine-tune things to get them where they need to be.”

The jazz bands showcased a diverse set of piece arranged by various musicians, including Bob Mintzer, Mike Tomaro and Lab Band director Dr. David Hart.

“It’s a whole different spectrum of songs,” Florio said. “Both Lab Band and Jazz Band are doing arrangements of pop tunes and ballads.”

Senior Maile Chung, who has been involved in Harker music programs sincefourth grade, enjoyed performing songs alongside her friends at the final concert of her high school career.

“Everything [came] full circle on March 17, because the last song that I [played] on stage was one of the first songs that I played when I joined Jazz Band back in 2008,” Maile said. “I’m so happy that I was a part of the Jazz Band because it helped me find my passion in music, and it has become a great creative outlet for me to express my emotions.”

Nerine Uyanik
Four upper school trumpet players, along with Lab Band director Dr. David Hart, perform solos at the front of the stage. Lab Band, along with Jazz Band and groups from the Middle School, performed at the An Evening of Jazz concert on March 17.

Musical rehearsals continue for cast

The 47-member cast continues rehearsals for this year’s spring musical, an adaptation of the Disney movie “High School Musical.” Mandatory technical rehearsals will take place from April 10 to 18. There will be a preview performance for an invited audience on April 19.

Evening performances on April 20, 21 and 22 at the Blackford theater will begin at 7 p.m. The matinee performance on April 22 will be at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased either through an online link or at school during lunch starting April 10.

Tiffany Wong
Last year’s musical cast lines up onstage after their performance. This year’s musical is an adaptation of the Disney movie “High School Musical.”

This piece was originally published in the pages of The Winged Post on March 28, 2017.