Concert to Benefit Japan

Members of the Staples High School Music Department will be performing a special concert on Wednesday, April 13 at 7:30 in the Town Hall Auditorium to aid in “Save the Children’s” Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Effort.  The concert is being spearheaded by Tri-M, the National Music Honor Society at Staples.

The Staples’ specialty groups are slated to perform.  The Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Adele Cutrali-Valovich will be performing “Winter” from Vivaldi’s “Seasons” with Sam Weiser, the group’s Concertmaster as featured soloist.  They will also perform a contemporary selection, “Winter Dances” by David Holsinger.  The Orphenians, under the baton of Justin Miller will be performing several selections, including “Miserere Mei” by Lotti , “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen and the traditional spiritual, “Ride the Chariot”.  Nick Mariconda’s Jazz Band, will offer two classic jazz selections: “Spain” by Chick Corea and “Red Clay” by Freddie Hubbard.

In addition to the larger ensembles, student soloists have volunteered to share their talents.  “Chops”, a student run jazz combo featuring Mike Ljungberg, Brian Hershey, Austin Alianiello, Olivia Kapel and Danny Pravder, with help from other student guest artists, will be performing several jazz selections.  Sam and Rayna Weiser, frehman and junior year siblings will be performing a violin duet.  Rachael and Daniel Shapiro (junior and freshman), will play a Beethoven sonata for French horn and piano, and Ellie Shapiro (6th grade BMS) will join her sister Rachael to play a Mozart sonata for violin and piano. Daniel Zlatkin, a senior cellist planning to major in performance and composition and this year’s winner of the SHS Concerto Competition will be performing that evening also.  The list of student performers continues to expand.

Students are very excited to share their time and talents and the universal language of music with those world residents who are need of their support.

Admission will be a free will offering in the form of a check made payable to “Save the Children”.