Students Shine in End-of-Year Arts Performances
Arts students at Riverdale Country School have put an immense amount of hard work and dedication into preparing for their end-of-year performances, which include a jazz concert, an orchestra concert, and an annual dance performance. The Riverdale Review interviewed students from each discipline who discussed their preparation process, their repertoire, and insights into each showcase.
The first end-of-year performance, featuring the Jazz Band, took place on May 13th. They performed at The Cutting Room, a famous concert venue in lower Manhattan.
Ninth-grader Ella Charen, a saxophone player in the band, shared an experience that enhanced their overall performance: a trip to London over spring break. “We had the opportunity to play with British schools and also learn about the British origins of jazz and modern jazz players. The experience provided us with knowledge on how to prepare for concerts and perform in front of audiences.” The influence of the trip was evident in their repertoire, with new pieces such as “Summer Soft” by Bryan Carter joining their lineup. Charen highlighted the collaborative nature of the Jazz Band: “We prepare for the performance by running through each piece, focusing on the chord progressions of pieces, such as “When the Saints Go Marching In” and “St. Louis Blues”. From joining the ensemble, I gained new friendships with upper-classmen high schoolers who I wouldn’t have met otherwise. I have really enjoyed jamming with them on different pieces and working together to become better musicians.”
The next evening, the RCS Symphony Orchestra’s spring concert took place in the Montag Upper Varsity Gym. The orchestra performed seven exciting pieces, featuring a variety of composers such as Bach, Elgar, Beethoven, and Vivaldi.
Ninth-grader Ayleen Strauss, a cellist, shed light on the orchestra’s meticulous preparation process for the concert, which involved breaking up the Orchestra into sections. “The group sizes vary, ranging from a few musicians to entire strings and winds-only sectionals. Later on, we would regroup as an orchestra and run through the pieces, stopping occasionally to touch up some details. This cycle repeated numerous times until April, when our orchestra’s focus shifted to improving our collaboration as an entire group,” she said. Ayleen also shared her own experience working in the cello and bass sectionals: “We would focus on specific measures to improve our timing and dynamics, practicing until they are just right.”
In addition, ninth-grader and violinist Delphine Toulouse reflected on the sense of collaboration and unity within the orchestra: “My favorite aspect of playing in the orchestra is how such a big group can join together and play cohesively. Not only do I get to meet other talented students, but I also get to learn new pieces of music that I would never have discovered on my own. My favorite piece that we performed was the Fugue in G Minor by Bach. In this piece, the theme is played by several different instruments, each having balanced, interwoven parts. The Fugue can even be played without a conductor since the different parts work together to keep the rhythm. For this reason, it is emblematic of the orchestra’s cohesiveness.”
Similarly, ninth-grader Eli Prawer, a viola player, appreciated the hard work of Middle and Upper School Orchestra Conductor Mr. John Lettieri and Middle and Upper School Music teachers Dr. Eva Leon Nathanson and Dr. Miho Weber in making the concert possible. “They have ensured that we have an adequate amount of time to play through all of our pieces as an orchestra,” he said. While these pieces may seem challenging to play, we have all worked very hard to perfect our playing ability and have received a significant amount of help and guidance from them.”
Lastly, the dance classes are rehearsing for their upcoming annual dance performances on May 29th for parents and the 30th for students.
Ninth-grader Olivia Kaplan, currently taking the Fundamentals of Dance course, shared that “every student in Dance 7 to Dance Intensive classes has the opportunity to perform and showcase what they learned. My class will be performing a modern, ballet, tap, and jazz dance for the concert.” Ninth-grader Alice Liao, who is also taking Fundamentals of Dance, shared, “Our class has been preparing for this special performance since September, when we started learning our first dance, “Homesick.” Afterwards, we learned jazz and tap dances. Throughout the entire process, we had a lot of fun choreographing and teaching several parts of our dances to the class. On May 16, our class visited Ballet Hispanico, a Latino dance company, where we will have the opportunity to rehearse our choreography in an actual dance studio.”
The Riverdale community has once again witnessed the remarkable talents of its musicians and performing artists. As we reflect on their incredible achievements throughout the year, let’s continue to celebrate their commitment and passion!
