Great Neck North High School’s annual Artfest, a celebration of the school’s fine and performing arts, will be held on three evenings this month – Monday, May 20; Thursday, May 23; and Thursday, May 30, at the school, 35 Polo Road. Event descriptions and times follow. All events are free and the public is warmly welcomed to attend.
Concerto Concert
Artfest kicks off with Concerto Concert, at 7:30 p.m., on Monday, May 20, featuring the Chamber Symphony, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Combo, and Symphony Orchestra.
Concerto Concert will feature six senior soloists: Harpist Laura Simeon and Flutist Sowoon Park in Mozart’s “Concerto for Flute and Harp, K. 299”; Cellist Bu-Guk Gregory Pil in Haydn’s “Concerto for Cello, Hob.VIIb:1”; Saxophonist Jayant Sani in Glazanov’s “Concerto (1934)”; Flutist Sowoon Park in Mozart’s “Concerto No. 1 in G, K. 313”; Trombonist Lauren Brill in Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Concerto (1922)”; and Violist Karishma Mansukhani in Bruch’s “Romanze, Op. 85.”
Saxophonist Richard Feder will lead the Jazz Combo in an improvisation of songs in a “Jazz Medley from West Side Story.”
The Symphony Orchestra will end the evening with Bruch’s “Romanze, Op. 85,” and Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring) (arranged by John Kennedy). 2013 marks the 100th anniversary of the premiere of Stravinsky’s ballet music piece. The premiere was an opening-night sensation. According to Michael Tilson Thomas, “Stravinsky had taken the orchestra, which was associated with high society and culture, and brought it to a carnal, bestial, earthy level…with the opening bassoon solo set so high that the audience didn’t know what instrument they were hearing. As the lights came up on the dancers, people began yelling, and a wilder and wilder shouting match began. It became difficult to hear the music. The Rite of Spring may not be as shocking today as it was then, but it still has that edgy, intense, almost out-of-control feeling that makes it as exhilarating—and liberating—as music can be.”
Art Exhibit
Artfest Art Exhibit begins at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, in the main lobby. (The rexhibit will remain on display during school hours on May 24, and from May 28–30.) The Exhibit is the culminating display of work from all fine arts classes, including: advanced placement studio art, digital darkroom, painting and drawing, photography, sculpture and ceramics, and visual art foundation. The various pieces reflect the talent and hard work of many students, as well as their joy in expressing themselves. Art teachers are: Christine Eisenhauer, Joseph Giacalone (lead teacher), and Emily Man.
Artfest Concert
The Artfest Concert, also on May 23, will begin at 7:30 p.m., with an all-American program. Performing will be the Jazz Choir, Chorus, Symphonic Band, and the joint Chorus and Symphony Orchestra in a piece with audience sing-along.
The Jazz Choir will present a tribute to ‘“Broadway’s Golden Age,” with a smash-’em-up, knock-’em-down musical roller coaster ride celebrating American theater composers. Pieces are arranged by Resident Composer Roger Ames and staged by English Teacher Jeffrey Gilden, with musical preparation by Music Teacher Janine Robinson, Student Richard Feder, Assistant Music Director Paula Tartell, and Mr. Ames.
The Chorus will perform “Fascinatin’ Rhythm,” by George Gershwin; “Go Down Moses” (traditional-arranged by Mr. Ames); “Everybody Rejoice” (from The Wiz); and “Broadway Medley” (arranged by Mr. Ames).
The Symphonic Band will perform Louis Gottschalk’s “Night in the Tropics” and Leonard Bernstein’s masterpiece, “Symphonic Dances from West Side Story.”
The Symphony Orchestra will perform Alan Hovhaness’ “Psalm and Fugue,” followed by ballet music from two movies: Aaron Copland’s “Hoe-Down” (from Rodeo), and George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris” (from An American in Paris). The 16-minute dance featured Gene Kelly, who did the choreography, and Leslie Caron.
The Chorus and Symphony Orchestra will finish the Artfest Concert with John Phillip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever,” with audience participation!
Repertory Theater
Artfest concludes on Thursday, May 30, at 7 p.m., with the Repertory Theater Class’s production of “The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later.” (Note: This performance is an addition to Artfest and is not on the district calendar.)
Drama Director Jonathan Gellert writes, “In 1998, Matthew Shepard was tied to a fence, beaten, and left to die on the outskirts of Laramie, Wyoming. He had been the victim of a homophobic hate crime that left the small town of Laramie reeling. His murder became a watershed moment in America, highlighting the violence and prejudice LGBT people face in contemporary society. In the fall of 2008, the Tectonic Theater Company returned to the town that had become famous for a tragedy many of its citizens wanted to forget. Meticulously crafted from hundreds of interviews with the town’s residents, ‘Laramie Project’ examines a community’s shaken self-understanding in the aftermath of tragedy and the temptation to rewrite history in the name of moving on. This year’s Repertory Theater class, drawing from our work on the Mesiner Technique and Peter Brook’s, ‘The Empty Space,’ is proud to present this years Artfest project, which has been cast and directed by members of the class.”
Musicians are under the direction of Joseph Rutkowski, instrumental music teacher. Vocalists are under the direction of Dr. Robinson and Mr. Ames. Neil Saggerson is North’s fine and performing arts department head. For more information on Artfest, please contact Mr. Saggerson at 441-4743, or at nsaggerson@greatneck.k12.ny.us.
