It’s a frantic time of year for the members of the North Bergen High School music department.
There is an upcoming spring concert that is highly anticipated. Then there is the Teen Arts competition at New Jersey City University, which serves as a showcase for the talented North Bergen teenagers. Plus the regular rigors of gaining a high school education.
“It’s a very hectic time for all of us,” said senior Ana Garcia, who plays percussion with the school’s performance band. “We have a lot of things going on, but it’s an exciting time for me, because we’re coming to the end.”
So in the middle of all the hustle and bustle, the North Bergen students will put on a special free concert next Sunday afternoon.
The event is being called “An Afternoon of Classics and Jazz,” and will be held in the high school auditorium beginning at 2 p.m. Admission to the concert is free.
The concert will feature instrumental solos and ensembles including a jazz band, wind ensemble and guitar ensemble.
Eclectic mix of music
What makes this concert different than others is that there is a no-holds barred approach.
“It’s an eclectic collection of music, based on classical music and jazz,” said North Bergen band director George Haviland. “It’s really the brainchild of Dr. Myron Leshowitz (the district’s music coordinator), who wanted to give the students a chance to perform music that they want to perform.”
“It’s really awesome,” said bass clarinetist Jesenia Rivera, who will perform a solo of a classical piece, called “The Ballade,” written by Eugene Bozza. “Getting a chance to perform something I chose is incredible. None of us are being told what to play. We’re getting the creative license.”
Garcia is performing a timpani solo.
“I’m very excited,” said Garcia, who plans on majoring in music and music education in college. “I like that we were able to choose our own pieces and put our own style to it. It’s pretty cool.”
Garcia plays all forms of percussion (drums, marimba, timpani), so getting a chance to showcase her talents is something she never thought she would get.
“It’s a totally different concert and I know it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Garcia said.
Rivera, who also plans on studying music in college, also liked one other aspect.
“It’s free,” Rivera said. “That’s the best part. Everyone can come to see it. I like this chance, because my family and friends can see what I love to do. I am appreciating events like this more, because it’s my senior year and this will be one of the last times I get to play for everyone here.”
“There will be some intricate pieces,” Haviland said. “Other than Ana and Jesenia, we have Laura Nunez and Salma Patel playing the flute, Avril Pryce doing a saxophone solo of ‘God Bless the Child.’ We will have the guitar ensemble playing Bach, the wind ensemble playing Mozart and the jazz band playing some blues numbers. All of the work is done at a much higher musical level. We have a great group of kids and getting a chance to showcase them like this is wonderful. We’re getting a head start to the rest of the year.” The North Bergen High School Music Department will present “An Afternoon of Classics and Jazz” on Sunday, March 24 at 2:00 p.m. in the North Bergen High School Auditorium located at 7417 Kennedy Blvd., North Bergen. Admission is free. For more information, please contact the Music Department at (201) 295-2801 for more information
. Jim Hague can be reached via e-mail at either OGSMAR@aol.com or jhague@hudsonreporter.com