Onteora music department educators provided a faculty concert with every music teacher in the district highlighting their special musical talents, ranging from classical to jazz to rock. The show raised money to support student scholarships.
Highlights included: Harvey Boyer in powerful display of his operatic tenor voice without amplification, singing “De’miei bolenti spiriti” by Verdi from La Traviata, supported by Paul Schubert on piano. A Mozart concerto for clarinet was performed by Karen McKenna with Krista Cayea accompanying on piano. David Laks and his Latin groove Zunbi Zunbi group showed us some fantastic sax and harmonica. Steve Murphy performed a trilogy on the vibraphone; Erica Boyer with Winnie Patow on piano performed Fritz Kreisler’s “Praeludium and Allegro.” Dave Thomas played the “Rolly-Polly Blues” on trombone; and on cello, Gina Gilbert played a lovely Bach suite in G major.
The evening closed with all the teachers together performing an ensemble to the jazz standard, “Route 66.” The hope is that this was the first of a new annual tradition in which our music faculty delights us and keeps us warm while raising funds to support student scholarships. Bravo!
~ Bill Melvin