The Sinfonietta in concert

The High Mowing Sinfonietta, directed by Mark Ferguson (pictured), performed a concert this afternoon at Pine Hill Waldorf School. The program included works of Albeniz, Mozart, and Villa-Lobos.

Soprano Johanna Landis, mom of Aaron (HMS '09), was a featured guest artist. Second violinist Jeremy Gillam ('09) put on his baritone soloist hat as well, performing a piece with the string section. All music was arranged by director Mark Ferguson, with the two vocal pieces arranged specifically with Johanna and Jeremy in mind.

Five Students to represent HMS at NH All-State Music Festival

The audition results are in! Representing HMS in the All-State Chorus will be alto Amanda Mullen ('10) and soprano Emily Flemming ('09). Selected for the Orchestra were cellist Zoe Falk ('10), violist Nicole Perez ('10) and violinist Michiko Takahashi ('08). Nicole received the second highest score among violists in the state, and Michiko's score puts her in the sixth chair of the first violin section, besting her score from the two previous years.

Congratulations to Amanda, Emily, Zoe, Nicole, and Michiko, and thank you for your hard work and buoyant energy throughout the rehearsal and audition process!

The Festival will be held April 3-5. Tickets will be on sale the day of the performance at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord, NH (pictured) on April 5; a CD and DVD of the concert will be professionally recorded and produced.

FUZZY BUNNY FOUND

The much-cuddled and beloved mascot of the HMS Music Department, Fuzzy Bunny, has been located. His return to campus at the end of Thanksgiving Break has been assured. Thanks to all who helped search for him!

New chapel piano!

Thanks to the generosity of Nance Hall (mom of Ben, '08), the Chapel now has a wonderful new upright piano! It has a lovely sound, is gorgeous to look at, and (perhaps most importantly!) holds a tuning over sustained periods!

Thank you Nance (and Ben!) for your generous donation!

(pictured...not the piano in question, but something quite similar!)

2008 New Hampshire All-State Music Festival Auditions

On Friday, November 16, sixteen High Mowing students auditioned for the All-State Orchestra, Chorus, and Concert Band.

Sophie Abrahams-Dematte ('08), violin
Julia Balit ('09), alto voice
Clara Brown ('09), soprano voice
Haley Clougherty ('10), alto voice
Zoe Falk ('10), cello
Emily Flemming ('09), soprano voice
Matt Frost ('09), tenor voice
Holly Johnston ('09), soprano voice
Jazmin Ment ('09), soprano voice
Amanda Mullen ('10), alto voice
Jaimen Perez ('11), trumpet
Nicole Perez ('10), viola
Michiko Takahashi ('08), violin
Fana Takahashi ('10), cello
Sarah Truchon ('09), alto voice
Julian Valdez ('09), bass voice

Students were asked to play a prepared piece and scales, and to sight-read. Michiko was accepted to the Festival the past two years; in addition, Sophie and Nicole were accepted last year.

The HMS Music Department would like to thank these musicians for their willingness to put themselves on the line in this competitive audition process. Whether or not these students are accepted to the Festival, their hard work and preparation will pay off for them in terms of their musicianship, as well as their ability to face tough situations (like future auditions and even job interviews!) with grace.

Finally, a SPECIAL THANKS to HMS parent and Athletic Director Betsy Truchon for driving one of the two buses it took to get everyone to and from auditions, as well as dorm counselors Maryanne Martel and Michal Noer for helping some of our boarding students get home a day later than usual, post-auditions...

Introducing: The Gentlemen of Leisure!

Dan Roaman ('08, guitar), Shea Vaccaro ('10, guitar and bass), Seamus Conley ('11, drums) and Jonah Tolchin ('11, guitar and harmonica), known collectively as the Gentlemen of Leisure, performed a blues/rock show for a packed house tonight at Nelson's Candies in Wilton, New Hampshire.

Please congratulate these musicians on a job well done! The Gents have a MySpace page, as well. Check it out!

HMS duo gives a voice and piano recital on 11/9/07

Jeremy Gillam ('09, baritone vocalist, pictured at top) and Henry Lewers ('08, piano, pictured below) gave a duo recital at 7:30 tonight in the Auditorium at the Pine Hill Waldorf School. The evening featured Contemporary and Romantic songs in Spanish, Italian, and French.

The concert benefitted the Anderson Music Fund and was the final installment of the Fund's new Fall Music Series.

NH All-State Jazz Festival 2008

Seven HMS music students auditioned for NH All-State Jazz Festival 2008 on Saturday, 10/27/07. Held at Litchfield High School, the auditions were arduous and competitive, but preparation levels were also high.

The HMS Music Department would like to thank the following students for their hard work, preparation, and willingness to put themselves on the line in a stressful audition environment:

Helen Wright ('08), alto voice
Henry Lewers ('08), piano
Matt Frost ('09), tenor voice
Julia Balit ('09), alto voice
Shea Vacarro ('10), guitar
Seamus Conley ('11), drums
Jaimen Perez ('11), trumpet

Whether or not these students are accepted to the Festival (to be held at Pinkerton Academy, pictured, in Derry during early February), their hard work and preparation will pay off for them in terms of their musicianship, as well as their ability to face tough situations (like future auditions and even job interviews!) with grace.

Watch this space for updates!

HMS students attend Laszlo Gardony concert in Amherst

Thanks to the generosity of Ellen and Phil Friel (parents of PJ, HMS '10), several HMS students, faculty, and other friends of HMS were able to take in a wonderful concert today at the Amherst Public Library.

Laszlo Gardony, one of the most prominent pianists on the Boston jazz scene for several decades, performed with his trio at the Library. Playing two sets, the trio performed Gardony's own compositions, as well as innovative arrangements of well-known standards.

Thanks to the Friels for their thoughtfulness and generosity!

Parents' Weekend 2007

What a weekend we had! Thanks, everyone, for all the hard work and wonderful results!

Chris Wright (mom of Helen, '08) took some great shots of the blues trio (Helen on vocals, Danny Roaman ['08] on guitar, and Jonah Tolchin ['11] on harmonica) which performed in the Center Room during the Weekend. The trio were taking advantage of the lovely fall weather in a nice spot under the oaks behind the girls' dorm, rehearsing the two tunes they were to perform later that weekend.

If anyone else --- student, parent, grandparent, etc. --- has pictures or video, please let me know as soon as possible, so we can share it here. Thanks, Chris, for sending the pictures along!

Elise MacDonald
603-562-5179
elise.m2@gmail.com

HMS vocalist Jeremy Gillam takes top honors at local talent competitions

Baritone vocalist Jeremy Gillam (HMS '09), performing in a vocal duo with his sister (Caitlin Gillam, a soprano and an 8th grader at Pine Hill), won top honors at the Milford Pumpkin Festival Talent show (both the First Place and the Audience Choice awards) on October 6, 2007.

A week later, the duo won first place at the second annual Monadnock Idol competition, held October 13, 2007 at the Peterborough Town House.

Jeremy is a voice student of Dorothy Yanish. His other teachers have included Nancy Knowles (voice), Cornelia Schwartz (violin) and Frank Wallace (classical guitar).

Congratulations, Jeremy and Caitlin!

Classical Guitarist Frank Wallace performs at HMS 10/5/07

Classical guitarist and baritone vocalist Frank Wallace performed a solo concert in HMS's chapel on October 5th at 8 pm. Proceeds benefited the David Anderson Music Fund. Wallace performed his own works for guitar and guitar/voice, after having given a preview concert to the entire school at noon in the Science/Tech Building.

~~~~~

From Wallace's website:

American Record Guide calls Frank Wallace's compositions “exciting, unpredictable, and fresh”. Fanfare magazine has dubbed him a composer with “an authentic expressive voice” who writes with a “high standard of musical interest” and performs with “flawless technical proficiency”. New music reviewers have also honored Wallace's compositions: NewMusicBox.org calls it “contemporary musical emancipation”. Wallace's works showcase the classical guitar in solo, duo trio and quartet, as well as in chamber works with voice, flute and cello. His compositional style has many influences, from the blues and jazz to medieval and avant garde . His melodies are memorable, his harmonies and rhythms complex. Great passion and a sense of humor infuse his work.

In the past ten years Frank Wallace has become one of the most prolific composers of songs with classical guitar of our time. He has written over 75 songs set to classical guitar, most of them in groups (cycles) ranging from six to fifteen songs, set to poetry from many sources, including Pulitzer-prize winning poet Theodore Roethke, Robert Creeley, Henriette de Saussure Blanding, Deborah Dill, Guillevic, Shem Tov Ben Palquera, Rumi, and Nancy Knowles. The richness and complexity of his song accompaniments and his compelling vocal melodies highlight the influence of his mentors, from Dowland to Schubert to Britten.

Wallace's compositions have been twice honored by the New Hampshire Council on the Arts' prestigious Artist Fellowship Award, in 2001 for Frank Wallace, his own new works (Gyre 10012), his debut recording on Gyre of his own compositions, and in 2006 for the Duo LiveOak CD Woman of the Water (Gyre 10082)

An update from vocalist Greta Frost (HMS '01)

Greta writes:

~~~~~~

I'm still in school (for my fifth year) at Franklin Pierce in Rindge, getting my BS in Environmental Science. This year I'm in Lachrimae, Choral Union, and FPU Singers.

FPU Singers, a very select group of 12 people (SATB, 3 in each section) primarily perform for specific events at the request of the President (sometimes we get treated to really nice dinners, too). We're doing some really cheesy pop songs (Too Much Heaven by the Bee Gees), Take Five, some elevator music, as well as a nice classical a Capella piece (My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose). For certain events we're also working on an awkward SATB arrangement (by David Brandes, our Director) of America the Beautiful. We'll definitely be performing carols, come December. Last year we learned this crazy SATB version of We Wish You A Merry Christmas (aka the Figgy Pudding Song), that has some amazing close harmonies--I love this piece--it's nice to sing challenging carols! Everyone else thinks I'm crazy.

In Lachrimae, aka FP Renaissance Ensemble, we're singing--Surprise! Renaissance Music! We are currently learning:

O magnum mysterium by Ludovico Tommaso da Vittoria (1549-1608)
Ihr Musici, frisch auf!
and
Ach weh des Leiden, both by Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1612)
Pastime with good company by Henry VIII
Nowell, nowell: Tidings True
Nowell sing we
The Holly and the Ivy (I love singing in other languages, but everyone else is thrilled to be singing something in modern English!)
And of course, The Gloucestershire Wassail

There will be more, I'm sure, but that's what we've been working on so far. I hope you get a chance to come to one of our concerts in December!

Choral Union is also led by David Brandes, which is usually around 30 people or so; he loves Baroque music, so in previous years we've done a lot of Handel and Bach, among others. This year we are singing:

Let All the World in Every Corner Sing -- D. Muro
The Eyes of All Wait Upon Thee- J. Berger
She Walks in Beauty --E.W. Barnum
and Three Choruses from the Messiah that are rarely performed:
The Lord Gave the Word
Their Song is Gone Out
Let All the Angels of God

and lastly:
The Fall -- J. Miller

(This is the weirdest piece in the world...it is a poem set to this pretty (thankfully) tune about a man who finds leaves, brings them in his house and says to his parents "look! I'm a tree!" and they then tell go outside before his roots ruin the carpet..then he says that he was just fooling and drops his leaves, and his parents say "Look! It's Fall!" It's really hard not to laugh while singing this song.)

Last year my brother (Matt Frost, HMS '09) and I discovered Bach's Magnificat and decided that we wanted to learn a particular piece together--the Alto/Tenor Duet "Et Misericordia". I think it was last year when I was working on a solo from Vivaldi's Gloria that the two of us realized that we were both at a comparable musical level. We have yet to really learn the piece, but maybe there's a chance that we'll learn it before Christmas in both of our copious amounts of spare time.

Other than all of that music, I'm studying Forest Ecology and Organic Chemistry...I absolutely loved being a camp counselor for Mass Audubon this summer! It was so much fun, lots of work--and I learned so much. This summer was a real confirmation to me that I want to work with kids. I'm still not entirely sure what age group I prefer; this summer I worked with 4 and 5 year olds and then 11-13 year olds and 14/15 year old CITs. The little kids make me laugh, but there's that whole intellectual level that is sorely lacking. The 11 and 12 year olds were great--although they are less able to be silly like the little ones. I don't know! I have plenty of time to figure things out, though. I think that I'm only going to be a part-time student next semester, taking the last class that I need and working a job somewhere.

An update from Lauren Nelson (HMS '02)

Lauren recently checked in with an update, as well as her very own website (please see the "Alumni Musicians" section in the right-hand margin for the link). After graduating from Eastman, she is pursuing a Master's in Music Performance (viola) and working as a T.A. at the University of Kentucky at Lexington. Best of luck in your continuing studies and thanks for the update, Lauren!

Von Chossy Trio returns to HMS

The Franz von Chossy Trio, featuring HMS alum Sean Fasciani on acoustic bass, performed in the Center Room of HMS's Science & Technology Building on Friday, September 21st at 8:00 pm.

HMS pianist Henry Lewers (HMS '08) opened for the trio.

The trio won Best Soloist and 2004 Jazz Album of the Year at the Dutch Jazz Competition/North Sea Jazz Festival (see photo). The Trio's recent release, "Awakening", is now available on iTunes.

The link to the Trio's website and MySpace page can be found in the "Alumni Musicians" box in the right-hand margin.

HMS students attend summer programs at Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music

On Saturday, June 23rd and Sunday, June 24th, HMS pianist Henry Lewers ('08) performed in two chamber music concerts at the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music in East Sullivan, NH. With other Apple Hill students, he performed Mozart's Piano Quartet in G Minor and Haydn piano trio. Many other works were performed as well, by other Apple Hill students.

Nicole Perez ('10), a violist and student at HMS, attended some of Apple Hill's August sessions. Here are a few of her reflections on her experience:

~~~~~~~~~~

The Apple Hill Summer Music Festival is a chamber music festival in the Monadnock region of New Hampshire. It invites people of all ages, cultures, and countries to participate with a vision of playing for peace. The compositions performed range from the Baroque period to the present, including pieces composed by the faculty. Apple Hill is unique in its founding ideas, creating an environment that is rarely found elsewhere.

I believe that the reason that Apple Hill is so special to so many people is because it has succeeded in a way that many other music festivals have failed. Apple Hill has created a completely non-competitive environment, while still attracting amazing musicians from throughout the world. Therefore there is an incredible energy and enthusiasm in all the participants and faculty, and a high level of respect towards everybody.

I had an awesome time at Apple Hill, and returned home with some great memories. Contra dancing in the tiny town of Nelson, with the (very) colorful locals; going crazy on dance nights and going to bed at 6 am; SOCCER at five; the incredible faculty concerts; partying in the kitchen after a long night of taboo, ping pong, and boggle; the ten-minute walk (up a steep incline) to the bathroom every morning; hiking Mount Monadnock without any water or food; eating stale birthday cake; and generaly just chillin' and having a great time with some very cool people.

I played in a Beethoven quartet (opus 18 # 2) and a Bach Brandenburg V. Both groups produced some great music and I'm extremely grateful to both the coaches and members of the groups for their incredible musicianship and inspiration. I would recommend Apple Hill to anybody who is into music, fun loving, and doesn't mind playing under extreme exhaustion! Thanks everyone, and hopefully I'll see you at Apple Hill in the next few summers!

~~~~~~~~~~

(pictured: Apple Hill students from the summer of '06)

Jazz Trio Concert at New England Conservatory

As part of the New England Conservatory Jazz Prep Certificate program, Henry Lewers performed a recital at New England Conservatory in Boston today. Performing with him were HMS music director Elise MacDonald on bass and flute, and former HMS student (and current Souhegan High School student) Jory Goodman on drums. The program included works by Claude Bolling, Chick Corea, Charles Mingus, and Henry Lewers.

Several HMS students and faculty were able to attend the recital, which took place in one of NEC's many recital halls on St. Botolph Street.

Henry has been studying at the NEC every Saturday this year, taking classes in Jazz History, Jazz Analysis and Jazz Theory, as well as playing in a jazz ensemble and studying piano privately.

Recordings from this recital are now up in the Archives section (see right-hand margin).

HMS jazz bands perform at Peterborough's Union Mill

HMS's combined jazz bands performed at the newly refurbished Union Mill in West Peterborough tonight. In a farewell appearance for our seniors (guitarist Galen Cruess and drummer Scott Baker), the bands performed a 5-song set in the Mill's comfortable cafe. They followed a performance by the Fiddle Orchestra directed by HMS alumna Leslie Vogel ('70).

The music was hoppin', the surroundings were comfortable and welcoming, and the pizza was yummy! We'll be back!

Musical Alums!

What have you been up to, musically? Private study, projects, concerts, composition, recordings? Inquiring minds want to know.

Contact Elise (contact info is in the margin) and clue us in! Best of all, I promise not to dig up vaguely embarrassing old pictures of you --- IF you send along a really suave/pretty current picture for me to post!

2007 Anderson Fund concert

This year's Advanced Independent Chamber Music class gave a concert tonight in HMS's Big Room. Works of Saint Saens, Dvorak, Vivaldi, Prokofiev, and Bach were performed by Sophie Abrahams-Dematte (violin), Michiko Takahashi (violin) and Henry Lewers (piano), all from the class of '08.

A chamber music concert given by HMS students to benefit the Anderson Fund took place in the spring of 2006. This year's chamber music students sought to build on last year's efforts. HMS seems to have another tradition in the making here.

Congratulations to Sophie, Michiko, and Henry!

CDs of the concert are on sale now. These CDs (as well as CDs of last year's concert with Townsend Gregg and Henry Lewers) may be purchased at the High Mowing School Store for $10, or they can be sent to you (shipping included) by sending a check for $15 per CD made out to "The David Anderson Music Fund" to Elise MacDonald at High Mowing School, 222 Isaac Frye Highway, Wilton, NH 03086. Please include the address you would like the CD(s) to be shipped to.

HMS Music Students perform for elders

Holding true to our tradition of the past several years, HMS chamber music students and chorus members have been performing, over the past few weeks, for residents at assisted living centers close to the school. Summerhill in Peterborough, the Pillsbury Home in Milford, and Friendship Manor in New Ipswich have hosted our musicians.

The performances are always popular --- the centers' activity directors simply rave about HMS's musicians!

HMS Music Department Party 2007

Many HMS music students got together for a cookout at Elise's house this afternoon. We had a great time! (Pictured: epic board game and equally epic hackey sack match!)

High Mowing Sinfonietta spring performance

The High Mowing Sinfonietta, directed by Mark Ferguson (former HMS French teacher and chamber music teacher...and still occasional HMS accompanist extraordinaire!), performed in the Big Room on Saturday, April 21 at 4 pm. HMS Music Director and flutist Elise MacDonald was a featured soloist. Harpist Bev Boyer, an HMS teacher and dorm counselor, also performed with the ensemble, as well as alums Nicola Groh ('06) and Guen Soo Park ('06), both violinists.

High Mowing students, music students from other area high schools, and students from Pine Hill make up the Sinfonietta, which is comprised of both strings and woodwinds. The woodwinds (flute, oboe, and clarinet) are a new addition to the Sinfonietta this year. In the past, Mark (pictured) has performed some pieces strictly for the winds and strings, and others for the strings, winds and piano. Mark has arranged and orchestrated several pieces for the Sinfonietta over the past few years, as well.

HMS students at NH All-State Music Festival 2007

HMS violinist Michiko Takahashi ('08), violinist Sophie Abrahams-Dematte ('08), and violist Nicole Perez ('10) participated in the New Hampshire All-State Music Festival, held in Concord, NH, over the weekend of April 12-14.

Housed in the swanky, newly-renovated Marriott Courtyard hotel, the girls were thrilled to have a room all to themselves (no roommate from another school was assigned to their room, as had been expected). There was a new set of rehearsal logistics at this year's festival: rather than being bussed to Concord High School for rehearsals, all the students needed to do was go downstairs and rehearse in the hotel's Grand Ballroom. Never leaving the hotel for nearly 48 hours got to be a little claustrophobic at times, but proved to be a big time-saver and logistical simplification as well. Lastly, the students got to socialize more with other Festival participants, as they didn't have to jostle with hundreds of Concord High School students at mealtimes.

The Festival included a concert band, a chorus of over 150 students, and the full symphony orchestra (the last of which included all three HMS students). The Orchestra's director was David Gilbert, who is Conductor in Residence at the Manhattan School of Music and director of the Greenwich (CT) Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Gilbert also served in the past as Assistant Conductor of the New York Philharmonic, Principal Guest Conductor of the Beijing Philharmonic, and as Principal Conductor of the American Ballet Theatre. He has also conducted the National High School Honors Orchestra and the All-Eastern High School Honor Orchestra.

After travelling very slowly and carefully through the spring slush storm and enjoying lunch at the Red Arrow Diner in downtown Manchester on Thursday, the girls had four hours of rehearsal Thursday night, followed by a jam-packed day of rehearsal on Friday. On Friday night, a 70s funk cover band entertained the students (numbering in the hundreds, from high schools state-wide), many of whom ended up singing, cheering, and forming a conga-line hundreds of feet long (yes...they were TIRED!).

On Saturday morning, after dress rehearsal, the girls enjoyed a little bit of downtime before the afternoon performance. We went back to Manchester for another Red Arrow Diner meal (The Food Network was filming in the kitchen while we were there!) and a much-needed long walk around the Millyard.

The Festival concert, held at Concord's Capital Center for the Arts, was an absolutely wonderful performance played to a packed house. Excerpts from the professionally recorded CD are on the recording archive page (see the "student musicians" links in the left hand margin).

HMS music teacher Elise MacDonald performs at Chapel with Sonorite Flute Trio

Elise MacDonald, HMS music teacher and flutist, performed at the Chapel given tonight by Patrice Pinette. Her new group, the Sonorite Flute Trio, performed works of McKay, Zempleni, Casterede, and Tcherepnin. Vocalist Michiko Takahashi ('08) also performed an unaccompanied version of the Japanese "Sakura" (Cherry Blossom) song.

Founded just recently, the Trio's other members are Rebecca Jeffries of Pepperell, MA (a flute teacher, director of flute choirs, and soloist; also mother to Jacob, a student at Pine Hill) and Marjorie Hogan of Nashua, NH (director of the Merrimack Valley Flute Choir, principal flutist with the NH Philharmonic, and long time pal of Elise's).

The Trio were really pleased to have a chance to play in the chapel, with its amazing acoustic and receptive listeners.

Rebecca's website can be found in the "visiting artists" section in the left-hand margin.

HMS Music Students enjoy a night out at Acton Jazz Cafe

Some HMS music students spent the evening at the Acton Jazz Cafe in Acton, MA, listening to renowned Brazilian jazz flutist Fernando Brandao and his septet (vocals, piano, bass, drums, saxophone, and trumpet, in addition to Brandao's C flute, alto flute, and bass flute).

As he has studied, taught, composed in, and performed the genres of jazz, the myriad musical styles of his native Brazil, and classical music, Brandao's biography is far too extensive to list here, but can be found on his website:

http://www.fernandobrandao.com/english/biography.html

The Acton Jazz Cafe is a wonderful place for high school students and adults alike to enjoy live jazz. Its friendly all-ages non-smoking "pub" setting serves up food, desserts, and beverages, but the music is always the primary focus. The patrons are respectful of the musicians and of the work that goes into performance.

More HMS trips to the Acton Jazz Cafe are likely! Besides regular performances of nationally-known jazz and blues acts, there are also all-ages jazz and blues jams at the Cafe --- all well under an hour from campus.

http://www.actonjazzcafe.com/

Guitarist Dan Roaman returns to Berklee Summer Program

Dan Roaman ('08) has been accepted into the five-week Summer 2007 Performance Program at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. His classes will include: theory and performance, musicianship, private and group lessons, and labs, as well as electives such as songwriting, composition, and music business. The goal of the Summer Performance Program, according to Berklee's website, “is to make better performers through increased musical and personal awareness and providing the tools to improve musical skills.” Students live in the College's dorms during this program.

Dan will also attend the Guitar Session at the end of August. Students live in the Berklee dorms for this program also. He attended this program during the summer of 2006 as well. The Guitar Session is a week of intense classes, performing ensembles, visiting artists, music theory, rhythm workshops, and jam sessions. Students meet and practice as an ensemble, which will give a performance on the last day.

Congratulations on your participation in these summer programs, Danny!

The Berklee Summer Programs website is in the "off-campus" links list in the left-hand margin.

HMS guitarists perform at Chapel

Guitarists Jeremy Gillam ('09, pictured) and Shea Vaccaro ('10) performed for tonight's Chapel, given by HMS teacher Robert Sim. The two performed a guitar duo by Fernando Sor; Jeremy also performed a guitar solo inspired by the work of Villa-Lobos.

The two guitarists have been working in a section of Chamber Music class (the first in memory devoted to classical guitar!). Guitar solo, guitar duo and flute/guitar duo works comprise the repertoire. Look for more performances from Jeremy and Shea at HMS's May Day.

HMS jazz students at the Vermont Jazz Center

On March 28, six HMS jazz students (guitarist Dan Roaman '08, guitarist Nick Swartz '08, violinist Sophie Abrahams-Dematte '08 [pictured], guitarist Jesse Cornelisse '08, pianist Julia Balit '09, and trumpeter Larkin Little '09) travelled to the Vermont Jazz Center in Brattleboro for an old-fashioned jazz jam. The jams are a weekly occurrence at the VJC, and have been going on for years. Participants can bring their own tunes, or just see what comes up (jumping up on stage and sight-reading!).

The students played a bit, listened a lot, and enjoyed the trip. They described the largely middle-aged crowd of regulars as a little "grumpy", but nobody could deny that these guys can play! HMS music teacher Elise MacDonald played a lot of bass during the evening, and found that the VJC crowd kept her on her toes.

We'll be back!

The VJC's website can be found in the "off-campus" box in the left-hand margin.

Snowed out of the Berklee Festival...*again*...

The HMS Jazz Bands were all set to perform at the Berklee College of Music High School Jazz Festival on March 17, after rehearsing feverishly during the week of March 12 - 16 (the week after our two-week break, which is just enough time to get rusty).

Along came a big old late-in-the-season Nor'Easter. After much excrutiating deliberation and consultation, it was decided that we just couldn't brave the weather. Students, parents, and HMS faculty alike were terribly frustrated and disappointed.

This was the second time in three years that we've been snowed out of participating in the world's largest high school jazz festival (350 bands from all over the USA). It happened in 2005, as well! We've been attending the Berklee Festival since 2000. The five visits we've made to the Festival have all been wonderful (our performances have been combined with a bit of Newbury Street/Copley square shopping for the students, as well as a wonderful, leisurely group lunch or dinner). The two years we've had to stay home have been awful!

Particularly given that I'm a Berklee alum, I've been in touch with the College about pushing the date out a bit later; we're far from the only band to have had trouble due to the weather in 2005 and 2007.

Stay tuned for 2008...

See Berklee's website in the "off-campus" section in the left-hand margin.

The David Anderson Music Fund

The David Anderson Fund was founded in memory of David Anderson, an HMS alum who passed away from leukemia several years after graduating from the school. David's accomplished cello playing and the importance of music in his life inspired his parents, Mike and Seraphin Anderson, to establish a scholarship fund in his honor for High Mowing music students.

Scholarships from the Fund may be used by the families of student musicians to help defray the cost of music camps, private lessons, and fees for music festivals (such as New Hampshire All-State).

Applications for scholarships from the fund are made at the beginning of the school year; awards are typically made during the winter. Both financial need and merit are part of the process of considering each application.

HMS families who would like to make an application to the Fund should click on this link.

HMS music students at New England Conservatory Prep program

Violinist Michiko Takahashi ('08) and pianist Henry Lewers ('08) have been enrolled in the Prep Division of New England Conservatory in Boston, MA since September of 2006. The NEC Prep program has been the premier source of accelerated music study for New England high school musicians for years. Every Saturday, the students head to Boston and spend a full day studying music theory, ear training, sight singing, and counterpoint. In addition, they receive private lessons and play in student ensembles. The experience essentially gives the experience of conservatory-level work for students who are still enrolled in high school.

Michiko is in the Traditional Music Prep program, studying classical violin. She plays in a string quartet with other Prep program students from around the region. Henry is in the Jazz Studies special two-year certificate Prep program. He plays in a jazz quintet (alto sax, guitar, piano, bass, and drums).

Fana Takahashi ('10) also travels with Michiko and Henry to NEC weekly for her cello lessons.

The NEC Prep Division website can be found in the "off-campus" box in left-hand margin.

Henry Lewers performs at the 2007 New Hampshire All-State Jazz Festival

Pianist Henry Lewers ('08) was a participant at the 2007 NH Jazz All-State Festival in Nashua over the weekend of February 1 - 3. He played in one of two big bands at the festival, performing swing and latin standards (and some originals written by the director of his band). He even performed a solo on the classic standard "But Beautiful".

Navigating around the cavernous campus of Nashua South High School seemed a bit odd for Henry, as did meeting a long list of roomates at the Sheraton Tara (the huge mock-Tudor place off Route 3!), but he persevered through two long days of rehearsal, culminating in a performance on Saturday afternoon (February 3) in Nashua South's excellent auditorium.

A CD of the Jazz All-State performances (two big bands and two jazz choirs) was made. Excerpts from the performances by Henry's band can be accessed on the archive page (look under "student musicians" in the left-hand margin).

Henry's participation in the Festival followed his successful audition in November of 2006. The NH All-State Jazz Festival, like the "regular" All-State Festival (which features symphony orchestra, large chorus, and concert band), is facilitated by the NH Music Educators' Association (NHMEA), a chapter of the Music Educators' National Conference (MENC). Please congratulate Henry for being the first HMS student ever chosen for the All-State Jazz Festival!

The NH Music Educators' Association site can be found in the "off-campus" box in the left-hand margin.

Anderson Fund Chamber Music Concert 2006 recording now available

In spring of 2006, cellist Townsend Gregg ('06, pictured) and pianist Henry Lewers ('08) gave a concert, marking the culmination of their year of work together in their independent chamber music class. The program included works of Bruch, Saint-Saens, Brahms, Faure, and others. Proceeds from donations made at the concert benefited the David Anderson Music Fund.

CDs of the concert are on sale now. These CDs may be purchased at the High Mowing School Store ($10) or they can be sent to you (shipping included) by sending a check for $15 per CD made out to the "David Anderson Music Fund" to Elise MacDonald at High Mowing School, 222 Isaac Frye Highway, Wilton NH 03086. Please include the address that you would like the CD(s) to be shipped to.

Preview tracks may be heard on the archive page by clicking on link in the "student musicians" box in the left-hand margin.