Winter Concerts Wrap-Up
The Voices of the Knight a-capella group thrilled the audience with their tight harmonies and joie de vivre.
BB&N students from all three campuses took to the spotlight once again this winter in a series of concerts and assemblies showcasing their musical prowess.
Upper School Winter Concert
Stepping from a cold, snow covered evening through the doors of the First Parish Church of Brookline, BB&N parents and faculty were quickly warmed by talents and voices of many student musicians at the annual Winter Concert.
The Upper School Orchestra opened the performance with Mozart’s Symphony No. 35 in D Major, playing through four movements under the direction of stand-in conductor Mary Beekman. Beekman, who graciously filled in for Director Brian Reasoner who had fallen prey to one of the season’s early maladies, energetically led the orchestra to a fine showing—in particular the third movement (Menuetto), which featured powerful bursts of sound and tympani to start, and a graceful, contemplative interlude before delving back into the fray for a potent finish.
The Chorale followed with an international offering of songs ranging from Hungarian folk to Polish carols, and even traditional spirituals. Director Joseph Horning led the singing, and standout solos by Amy McNabb ’08 and Emily Leinbach ’09 resonated throughout the eaves and no doubt spectators’ ears long after the performance ended.
The concert closed with a-cappella performances by both the Knightingales and Voices of the Knight—the latter’s version of Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides proved a striking bookend to the evening.
Middle School Winterfest
With luminarias gracing the entry from the parking lot and hand-crafted snowflakes dipping elegantly from the Big Room ceiling, the Middle School’s annual Winterfest concert ushered in the holiday season with its usual festive mix of chamber music, choral performances, and jazz band romps.
The various chamber ensembles all performed beautifully, but the emotional highlight was certainly the heroics of violinist Margy Weathers ’12, who played two Mozart serenades flawlessly, despite having jammed the middle finger of her left hand in a basketball game a mere hour before the show. “You should hear her when her hand is healthy!” marveled director Chris Dwyer as the crowd gave Margy and her accompanists, Kyle Kirwan and Sam Krentzman, a standing ovation.
The jazz band, directed by Diane Wernick, moved smartly through a trio of rousing numbers: Done Deal, Kansas City, and Watermelon Man. And the chorus, directed by Kathi Gellar, punctuated its performance with a terrific medley of songs by the rock group Queen. The chorus also took center stage for Winterfest’s “surprise ending”—a rendition of Lean on Me that was enlivened by the addition of numerous faculty members to the chorus ranks.
Lower School Concerts
Grades 2-6 performed an array of music during the New Wing and Brick Building concerts. Led by Lower School Arts Department Head Debbie Slade and Music Teacher Ada Park Snider, the LS orchestra began the New Wing concert with a cheerful rendition of Sleigh Ride by W.A. Mozart. Third and fourth graders in the chorus followed, performing the Dutch Spinning Song Sarasponda and The Japanese Snow Song (Yuki).
Brick Building students impressed their audience with Gypsy Rover, an Irish ballad arranged by Margaret Vance, and the recorder club showcased their talent with Edi beo Thu Hevene Quene and Personent Hodie, an English 13th century melody and a traditional German 14th century carol respectively. The Brick Building Chorus then sang Yo Vivo Cantando (I Live to Sing) as fifth graders Sophie Applbaum, Antoinette Cozier, and Tynan Friend accompanied on the percussion.
Morse Building Students and their parents gathered in the Lower School Gym for the annual Sing-Along, an event that Head of School Rebecca T. Upham aptly coined, “a great way to celebrate the start of winter break.”
“This is a tradition that BB&N has been doing for many, many years,” said LS Director Sue Scarborough before turning the proceedings over to an all-star cast of faculty musicians who led students on We Are the World.
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Calendar
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Photos
A select group of singers from the Brick Building chorus sang at the Lower School Brick Building Concert.
The Middle School Chorus teamed up with Faculty members at Winterfest this year for a touching encore, Lean On Me.
Parents and students joined forces singing at the Morse Building Sing-Along this winter.
Students impressed the audience with a recorder performance at the Lower School New Wing Concert.