School of Rock Keeps Students Pumped
Few things are as rewarding as seeing young people excited after discovering what they are capable of achieving, especially after a period of hard work. Members of the School of Rock club at Jack Abrams Intermediate School were deservedly thrilled after a recent series of three concerts for fellow students and family members.
The club was created by teacher Paul Esposito, who worked for months with this year’s members, teaching, tutoring, cajoling and motivating them. With student interest running high, Mr. Esposito brought in teacher aide Mike Macolino, an accomplished guitarist, to lend a helping hand in providing more individual attention.
“Every year, the School of Rock concerts go to another level,” Mr. Esposito said. “This year, we added a capella vocal medley of classic rock songs from Styx, Queen, Yes, Kansas and The Beatles, which parents and teachers recognized and enjoyed. In addition, we added an evening concert - something I hope will be a tradition, to raise money for the Laura Nugent Fund and to purchase some sound equipment for the School of Rock band.”
This year’s band, named Jack of Spades, included Justin Grella, Jasmine Fernandez and Grady Koepele on guitar, Brendan Wirth and Helena Rustici on viola, violinists Meghan Lawlor and Evan Montreul, bassist Peter Magerle, keyboardists Hanna Murphy and Gabrielle Goodridge, trumpeter Marina Siegel, French hornist Jason Moreira and trombonist Gabe Smith. Jordan Riddick and Bladimir Reyes were the band’s drummers and Alex Kalas was its percussionist. Singing chores were deftly handled by Carolyn Zobel, Gunther Cassell, Lana Ziegler, Sarah Collins, Kylie Palmer, Leigh Anderson, Hailey Giordano, Fiona Geier, Ellyn Byrnes, Diana Orjuela, Megan Boyce, Jada Rolle, Janee Rolle and Emily Sager.
“I am very impressed with the efforts of all of the band members, this year even more so, since we had over thirty members in the band, creating the need for an assistant,” Mr. Esposito said. “The kids show their enthusiasm in their performances, their rock and roll attire and the feeling that they are celebrities for a day or so. That makes it all worthwhile for me.”
The second of three concerts was led off by the legendary Mr. E. Street Band, which features Mr. Esposito as its front man. The group performed a short set that electrified a crowd of students, teachers and staff members. “Even though I was unable to enlist any parents this year, parents of past students pitched in and we were thrilled to make the crowd get up and dance in preparation for 'Jack of Spades' hitting the stage,” Mr. Esposito said about the adult band.
This year’s School of Rock once again provided hours of fun for its members. With its reputation continuing to grow, a long run seems assured for the club.
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