[ot-caption title=”Dr. Cicconi conducted all three bands at “A Night at The POPS”, including the Concert Band. (via Sabine Katsulous, Sophomore)” url=”https://pcpawprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/BAND_opt.jpg”]

Fall has arrived and with that comes the band concerts we have all come to love. Last Tuesday night, October 21^st was the first band concert of the year. The title of the performance “A Night at The POPS,” really set the tone for the rest of the night and lived up to its name with the great array of songs the band had to offer. The concert was held in Stacy Auditorium and performers ranged from freshmen to seniors. There were also three separate bands that presented, including Jazz Band II, Honors Jazz Ensemble, and Concert Band, all led by Dr. Christopher Cicconi.

Jazz Band II opened up the concert and performed five different songs including “Fiesta del Tigre” by Mike Story and “Earth Wind and Fire: Dance Mix” by Paul Murtha. Another unique quality to this concert in particular was the amount of solos given to students. Out of the five songs Jazz Band II performed, four of the songs had student solos. The soloists included Senior Santiago Arboleda (trumpet), Freshman Adam Cohen (alto sax), and Sophomore Ron Knezevich (trombone). This year’s jazz band was oozing with talent all around and because of an overwhelming amount of student musicians wanting to participate, the previous Jazz Band had to be separated into two separate bands. With only eight rehearsals before the show, both jazz bands stunned the audience.

Next was Honors Jazz Ensemble, whose uplifting music electrified the crowd. Their music, much like the rest of the bands, was varied and also gave a sense of familiarity to the audience and definitely got a few feet tapping to the rhythm. Some of their selections included “Coconut Champagne” by Denis DiBlasio and “Gonna Fly Now” by Bill Conti. These songs also had student solos; some were Senior Justin Bodner (alto sax), sophomore Matthew Dardet (bass), and Senior Sean Dicarolis (piano). Honors Jazz Ensemble also had Junior Elizabeth Pozzuoli join them on stage singing “Cry Me A River” by Arthur Hamilton.

The last to perform was the Concert Band, which brings all fifty-eight members together. The concert band played a medley of household tunes. Some of these included, “The Lion King” by John/Zimmer and “Pirates of the Caribbean” by Zimmer. There were some more solos included in the Concert Band, by Junior Danielle Shecter (flute), Junior Yani Fabre (trumpet), and Senior James Leahy (euphonium). The Concert Band had the audiences in admiration; they loved hearing the songs they knew and loved.

The bands had an amazing first concert of the year. All the faculty, family, and students who attended had a wonderful time listening to the amazing orchestration done by Dr. Cicconi. All the hard work of the band paid off, and no one’s attention strayed from the band, except of course, from the occasional flash of photography. “A Night at The POPS” was unquestionably one to remember.