Education
Darien Music Department Blog MMS Jazz Ensemble

Middlesex Jazz Ensemble Plays at the Darien Senior Center

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The Darien Senior Center was in for a treat on Thursday, May 31 when Jim Carter, the director of the Middlesex Middle School Jazz Ensemble, brought the Middlesex Middle School Jazz Band to entertain with a lunch time concert. The band launched into a jazz classic by Bud Green called “Sentimental Journey” featuring Cosmo Amatruda (Grade 8) on trumpet before moving on to other pieces such as “Mas Que Nada” by Jorge Ben, featuring Jake Dansker (Grade 8) on alto sax. They rounded off the morning with a rousing number by Stevie Wonder, “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing,” with Jack McDermott (Grade 8) on trumpet and Austin Ennor (Grade 7) on tenor sax. — This article is from the Darien Public Schools Music Department blog. After the concert, the Darien students joined their enthusiastic jazz fan Senior Center audience for lunch and good conversation.

Music
Melissa Etheridge by Tina Lawson, Flickr https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Melissa_Etheridge_in_Columbus.jpg

Melissa Etheridge Comes to Westport Aug 25: Tickets Go on Sale at Noon on Friday, June 1

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Tickets go on sale at noon on Friday, June 1 for Melissa Etheridge’s Aug. 25 concert at the Levitt Pavilion in downtown Westport. Known for her confessional lyrics and raspy, smoky vocals, Etheridge has remained one of America’s favorite female singer-songwriters for more than two decades. __________

— an announcement from the Levitt Pavilion

__________

Melissa Etheridge stormed onto the American rock scene in 1988 with the release of her critically acclaimed self-titled debut album, which led to an appearance on the 1989 Grammy Awards show. For several years, her popularity grew around such memorable originals as “Bring Me Some Water,” “No Souvenirs” and “Ain’t It Heavy,” for which she won a Grammy in 1992. Etheridge hit her commercial and artistic stride with her fourth album, Yes I Am (1993).

Darien Library
Acabella music in the stacks

A Capella Concert This Sunday, 5 to 6 PM at Darien Library

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Acabella was founded in 2001 by two friends who had recently moved to Darien and were eager to sing a cappella music, as they had done in college. The group was named Acabella, which combines the musical term, a cappella, which means unaccompanied by musical instruments, and bella, the Italian word for beautiful. — an announcement from Darien Library

The group is currently directed by Heather Raker, one of its founders, and Carolyn Woodberry, who has been singing with the group since its inception.  

Acabella presently comprises 11 women from the Lower Fairfield County area. Membership in the group is by audition, including musical exercises and a solo performance.

Churches
Salvatones photo promotional St. Luke's

‘The Salvatones’ A Capella Ensemble Sings This Saturday, May 19 at St Luke’s Church

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The Saint Luke’s Friends of Music are excited to present an afternoon with one of New York’s finest professional singing ensembles, The Salvatones, on Saturday, May 19 at 5 p.m. in St. Luke’s Church. Daniel Brondel, associate director of music and organist of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, will conduct the a capella ensemble in whimsical and compelling arrangements of Broadway, jazz, and Springtime tunes (think The Swingle Singers meet Yale’s Whiffenpoofs), in a concert that promises to entertain the whole family! The New York City-based professional vocal ensemble has been dazzling and delighting audiences with impressive vocal artistry since 2010.

Education
Music Dept Blog Middle School five CMEA

Four Fifth Graders from Royle School Selected to Participate in State Elementary Honors Choir

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Four Royle fifth graders were selected to participate in the 2018 Elementary Honors Choir at the Connecticut Music Education Association Conference on April 20 at the CT Convention Center in Hartford.  

The students performed a variety of songs including some from Kenya. This all-day choral event was directed by guest conductor Craig B. Knapp and accompanied by Royle’s Kathleen Theisen on piano. — an announcement from the Darien Public Schools Music Department blog

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Music Department blog image 2018

Schedule of 12 Darien School Concerts Starts Monday, April 30

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The Darien Public Schools Music Department recently announced its spring concert calendar, which runs from April 30 to May 31. All of the Spring Concerts will take place at the Darien High School Auditorium, 80 High School Lane. — an announcement from the DPS Music Department

There is no charge for admission and the public is welcomed.  If you have any questions or need additional information, you can contact the district Music Office at: 203-655-3981 ext: 2250 or access the Music Department Blog at: www.darienps.org/music

April 30

DHS Spring Orchestra Concert at DHS

7:30 P.M.

May 2

DHS Spring Choral Concert at DHS

7:00 P.M.

May 3

DHS Spring Band & Jazz Ensemble Concert at DHS

7:00 P.M.

May 7

MMS Spring Choral Concerts at DHS
Grade 6-7&Viva Voce 6:30pm/Gr.8,Camerata 8:00p.m.

6:30 P.M.
8:00 P.M.

May 9

MMS Spring Orchestras Concert at DHS

7:00 P.M.

May 10

MMS  Spring Bands Concert at DHS

7:00 P.M.

May 14

Hindley Spring Concert at DHS

7:00 P.M.

May 15

Royle Spring Concert at DHS

7:00 P.M.

May 16

Tokeneke Spring Concert at DHS

7:00 P.M.

May 17

Ox Ridge Spring Concert at DHS

7:00 P.M.

May 21

Holmes Spring Concert at DHS

7:00 P.M.

May 31

DHS Small Ensemble Concert at DHS

7:00 P.M.

 

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United Church of Rowayton twenty eighteen

Jazz Quartet Performs Sunday Morning, April 29 at United Church of Rowayton

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A special music program featuring a jazz quartet will be presented by the United Church of Rowayton this Sunday, April 29, 2018, at 10:15 a.m. All are invited to the annual event. The theme this year is “Music to Uplift Your Soul.”

Renowned musicians in the group include Rob Aries, piano; John Matroianni, saxophone; and Bobby Leonard, drums.

— an announcement from the United Church of Rowayton
“The inspirational service will feature reflections and readings complemented by hymns arranged with a jazz beat,” says Pastor John Livingston. “Music lovers and jazz aficionados will enjoy this unique musical experience” said David Snyder, bassist and church member who arranged the music and leads the quartet. The church is located at 210 Rowayton Ave. in Rowayton.

Education
Music Students All State Darien HS

Seven DHS Students Chosen for All-State Music Festival

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Seven outstanding musicians from Darien High School were chosen through a highly competitive statewide audition process and participated in the Connecticut Music Educators Association 2018 All-State Music Festival.  

The rehearsals and the concerts for the festival took place at Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford on April 19-21 in conjunction with the state-wide CMEA conference. __________

— an announcement from the Darien Public Schools Music Department

__________

The Darien students had the privilege of working in musical ensembles with Connecticut’s most accomplished high school musicians conducted by nationally renowned conductors and educators. Richard Sadlon, the Darien Public Schools director of music said, “These students are among the finest school musicians in our state and we are all extremely proud of their accomplishments and for representing Darien High School and our entire town so well at this prestigious state-wide event.”

Music
St. Luke's Choir 2017

Hear St. Luke’s Choirs in Saturday Service: ‘Spring: A Maritime Evensong’

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The choirs of Saint Luke’s Parish in Darien will present Phrases of the Spring: A Maritime Evensong, the last Choral Evensong of the season, on Saturday, April 28, at 5 p.m. A wine and cheese reception will follow. There is no charge for admission, and all are welcome. The service will feature special prayers, hymns, and blessings for boaters, sailors, and those looking forward to getting back to the water this spring. Featured music will include the Evening Service (Collegium Regale), composed for King’s College, Cambridge, England, by Herbert Howells (1892–1983), as well as his Hymn for Saint Cecilia, the martyr and patron saint of hymns, great musicians, and poets. Evensong, one of the great legacies of the English Reformation and most cherished of Anglican services, has its origins in the ancient monastic tradition of marking the day with specific times of prayer.

Education
Baryna

Russian Performers Visit Darien Elementary Schools

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Members of the Barnya Russian Music Ensemble performed for students at all of the elementary schools in Darien. In the picture above they are sharing Russian folk songs, dances, stories, and language with the students at Tokeneke Elementary School. The full Barynya 20-plus member ensemble, made up of singers, dancers and musicians, will be performing at the Darien High School auditorium in a free public concert on Tuesday, April 17 at 7 p.m, said Rick Sadlon, Director of Music. The Barynya performances are possible because of a generous gift from the Darien Music for Youth organization. _________________

— Marc Marin is district director of instructional technology.

Education
Tudor Players DHS

DHS Tudor Singers to Perform Tuesday Night at Free Concert with U.S. Air Force Band

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Darien High School’s Tudor Singers will perform Tuesday night at the Palace Theater in Stamford in a free concert with the United States Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants Chorus. “Come see the DHS Tudor Singers perform” at the concert, a Darien High School tweet said. The performance starts at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 3 at the downtown Stamford venue. Here’s the description of the band and chorus on the Palace Theater’s website:

With its present home on Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., the United States Air Force Band is the Air Force’s premier musical organization. Since its formation in 1941 as the Army Air Forces Band, the excellence demonstrated by the Band’s Airmen musicians has reflected the excellence carried out 24 hours a day by Airmen stationed around the globe.

Education
Middlesex Middle School Band and Jazz Ensemble

Middlesex Middle School Students Selected to Participate in Music Festival

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The Music Department of the Darien Public Schools is proud to announce that band and Jazz Ensemble students from Middlesex Middle School were chosen to participate in the 2018 Connecticut Western Region Middle School Music Festival. — an announcement from the DPS Music Department

The students were chosen to perform in the festival based on their competitive audition scores and earned the privilege of performing in honors ensembles with some of the best middle school musicians in Western Connecticut. The students joined with other students from throughout Western Connecticut on March 16-17 at Wilton High School and were conducted by renowned conductors and educators. The festival is an annual event sponsored by the Connecticut Music Educators Association. Pictured above:

Front row (from left): Will Abbott-8th Grade ,Tenor Sax ,Jazz Ensemble, Ella Bates, 7th Grade, Alto, Choir, Luke Ryan, 7th Grade, Soprano, Choir,  Sophia Condon, 7th Grade, Soprano, Choir, Cillian Hallinan-7th Grade Percussion Concert Band

Second row (from left): John Raskopf, 7th Grade, Alto, Choir, Riley O’Connor, 8th Grade, Baritone, Choir, Caroline Zerbe- 8th Grade-Baritone Concert Band

Third row: Alex Sutanto, 8th Grade, Bass, Choir

Not Shown: Nicky Condon, 8th Grade, Tenor, Choir

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Paul Watkins conductor Stamford Symphony

Guest Conductor Paul Watkins Leads Stamford Symphony Concerts This Weekend, March 17-18

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Guest Conductor Paul Watkins, will conduct Haydn, Mendelssohn and Schumann when he takes the podium in Stamford Symphony’s third concert in Our Next Maestro 2017-2018 Season. The concerts at 8 p.m., Saturday, March 17, and 3 p.m., Sunday, March 18. On Sundays, kids under age 18 get in for free. Violinist Benjamin Beilman will be returning to theSymphony as guest soloist performing one of Mendelssohn’s most prominent works, his Violin Concerto. — See also: Stamford Symphony Announces 2018-19 Season

At the next concerts, Stamford does not anticipate Chandeliers falling from the ceiling (like at the premiere of Haydn’s No.

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Stamford Symphony thumbnail

Stamford Symphony Announces 2018-19 Season

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Stamford Symphony CEO & President Russell Jones announced “Ignite Your Senses, the 2018-2019 Season” with the expected completion of the symphony’s search for a music director. Jones, together with the Stamford Symphony artistic committee, worked to conceive a program that drew upon our audience feedback, namely more American music, Opera, Baroque and music from the movies. — an announcement from Stamford Symphony (with additional information from its website)

— See also: Guest Conductor Paul Watkins Leads Stamford Symphony Concerts This Weekend, March 17-18

“Like most orchestras, current subscribers begin renewing their subscriptions in early spring,” said Russell Jones. “We thought it was only right to give our concertgoers a fully fledged program to experience next season. I am sure there is much for all our Fairfield County audiences to enjoy.”
Highlights of the Upcoming 2018-2019 Season
Thanks to our loyal audience, and our extraordinary musicians, Ignite Your Senses is a season that will explore and evoke feelings of delight, pride, struggles, spirituality and more.

Education
David Sapadin

Clarinet ‘Boot Camp’ Master Class at Darien High School on Wednesday

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Stamford Symphony clarinetist, David Sapadin, will be presenting a free, 2 hour clarinet masterclass “boot camp” open to clarinetists of all ages on Wednesday, March 14 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Darien High School Band room. David Sapadin is an active freelance musician in the New York City area, having performed with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, American Ballet Theater, New York City Opera, American Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, and Stamford Symphony. I addition to his freelance work, Mr. Sapadin is on faculty at Long Island University-Post, Mannes College Prep Division, Montclair University and can be heard on numerous recordings of the Metropolitan Opera and Rufus Wainwright. You can learn more about David Sapadin here. Mr. Sapadin is a Backun Clarinet Artist and his session is sponsored by the Stamford Symphony Orchestra. Teachers and parents are welcomed to attend.