Annual winter concert unites Lab Band, Jazz Band, Orchestra

by Ryan Guan, Executive News Editor

The upper school’s Lab Band, Jazz Band and Orchestra, directed by music teachers Naoki Taniguchi and Dr. Dave Hart, performed their annual Winter Concert in the Patil Theater on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The Lab Band performed “What Do You Say, Dr. J?” by James Williams, “Zigaboogaloo” by Nicholas Payton, “Big City Shuffle” by David Samuel and Duke Ellington’s “Limbo Jazz.”

After the Lab Band’s performances, the Jazz Band played Victor Feldman and Miles Davis’ “Seven Steps To Heaven” and Thelonious Monk’s “Well You Needn’t,” as well as Ray Henderson’s “Bye Bye Blackbird,” Richard Rodgers’ “Bewitched” and Ellington’s “It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing” with Kelsey Wu (12) on vocals.

During a 10-minute intermission after the Jazz Band’s performance, the audience could have cookies and refreshments provided in the RPAC lobby.

The Orchestra performed Hector Berlioz’s “Roman Carnival Overture,” followed by Saint-Saëns’s “Danse Macabre” with concertmaster Constance Horng (12) playing the violin solo. Next, the cello section alone performed David Popper’s “Requiem.” The entire orchestra played an accompaniment to Buster Keaton’s 1921 film “The Haunted House” written by Andrew Green and ended the night with Alan Menken’s “Beauty and the Beast Overture,” from the film of the same name.

Prior to the upper school concert, the middle school’s Orchestras and Jazz Bands performed at 5. Tickets to the event were free.