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!