Free HHS Concerts on Tuesday & Wednesday
Two days of unparalleled music will fill the cavernous Huntington High School auditorium this week as exceptional student-musicians and singers perform on Tuesday (May 22) and Wednesday (May 23) evenings. Tickets are not required. Admission is free.
The concerts will begin at 8:00 p.m. each evening. Tuesday night's program will include performances by the concert orchestra, directed by Lisa Leonardi; the chamber choir, directed by Veronica Mainville; and the junior symphonic band, directed by Brian Stellato.
Wednesday evening will see performances by the symphony orchestra, directed by Ms. Leonardi; the concert choir, directed by Mrs. Mainville; and the senior symphonic band, directed by Jason Giachetti.
Huntington High School's Tri-M national music honor society chapter is having a "can drive" in conjunction with the concerts. Those attending the performances are encouraged to bring a couple of non-perishable food items and place the goods in a large box that will be situated in the auditorium lobby. Student-musicians have already contributed hundreds of items to the humanitarian drive.
This week's concerts are expected to draw large crowds. "One of the highlights of Tuesday night will be the Theme from Schindler's List, played by the concert orchestra, comprised of ninth and tenth graders," Ms. Leonardi said. "It features Hailey Giordano, Suannne Petryk and Brendan Wirth as soloists."
Tuesday evening's chamber choir performance promises to be something quite special. "They are doing a very diverse program with music that spans several genres and time periods," Mrs. Mainville said. "Allen-a-Dale is a 19th century madrigal, New York Voice Dance is a jazz piece that only uses scat syllables and Prayer of the Children is a beautiful contemporary piece about the horrors of war in the eyes of children. The closer is a medley of the renowned Broadway musical, Les Miserables, featuring several student soloists and some choreography."
The junior symphonic band performance during Tuesday night's program should be delightful. "Annie Coffey, my music education intern will be conducting a piece entitled Encanto," Mr. Stellato said. "We are also performing a beautiful arrangement by Frank Ticheli of Franz Schubert's, Ave Maria."
There are several outstanding strings performances on tap for Wednesday night's concert, "as well as our amazing winds, brass and percussion on the first movement of Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony and selections from Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin," Ms. Leonardi said. "One of our best pieces will be Stairway to Heaven, with vocals by Josh Stickell."
Wednesday night's concert choir performance will include a diverse and exciting program. "The opener, Zion's Walls, is a rousing piece that invites the listener to join the choir in their singing and celebration," Mrs. Mainville said. "Ave Maria" is a traditional Bach piece arranged for choir and will be conducted by Christian Caronia. Yo Le Canto is a piece in Spanish, which utilizes hand claps and fun rhythms. When You Believe from the movie The Prince of Egypt features several student soloists and will be conducted by Hannah Rice. Our closer is a rousing medley from the musical Hair, and features the songs Age of Aquarius and Let the Sun Shine."
The senior symphonic band has a variety of interesting pieces on its plate for Wednesday evening. Morceau Symphonique by Alexandre Guilmant will feature a trombone solo by Collin Richardson. Elements (Petite Symphony) by Brian Balmages promises to be entrancing. Chant and Jubilo by the recently deceased W. Francis McBeth, one of wind band's finest composers, will connect two contrasting movements. Otto M. Schwarz's Nostradamus will trace the reputed seers "prophesies" through music.
The student-musicians are anxious to perform this week before family, friends and community members. There is plenty of open seating in auditorium, which boasts a capacity of 1,850. The facility is handicapped accessible.