May
13
MeritFest – Day One
May 13, 2010 | Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
Day One of MeritFest on May 11 was a success!!! The day started with Merit staff members Alicia, Danny and Heather arriving at Symphony Center at 7:00 am. They set up the string seating assignments, checked the supplies, and prepared for the arrivals of bus loads of performers, observers and chaperones.
Merit faculty member Jade Maze conducting the Concert Choir in Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, Chicago
Merit faculty and the rest of the staff started to arrive at 8:30am. Busses began arriving at 9am with rehearsals beginning at 9:30am. Over 500 students in the two string orchestras, percussion ensemble, and choir rehearsed together for the first time.
These students came from 40 sites located throughout the Chicago area. Duffie Adelson, Merit School of Music President, gave the opening remarks to the 19th Annual MeritFest. MeritFest was off and running!
Merit faculty Jean Leroy and Michael Taylor directing the Percussion Ensemble
One thing the audience did not know is that Yo-Yo Ma made a surprise visit backstage. He spent about two minutes backstage to see what was happening onstage. At that time, the Merit Latin Jazz Band was providing interlude music during a set change. Yo-Yo stated, “They’re really good!” and then retreated to his dressing room downstairs. He was kind enough to pose for a photo with the Director of Bridges: Partners in Music.
Heather Neaveill, Director of Bridges: Partners in Music, and Yo-Yo Ma
Yo-Yo Ma is on Merit’s National Advisory Board.
Faculty, staff, students, friends and family all had a grand time at Symphony Center. The Merit family gets to do it all again on Monday, May 17, 11am. This time, the performers featured are the Grazioso and ConBrio Bands, Guitar Ensemble, Holy Cross Marimba Ensemble and the Concert Choir. MeritFest is free and open to the public.
May
2
El Valor String Performance in Pilsen
May 2, 2010 | Alegre Strings, Comunidad, El Valor, School Concerts | Leave a Comment
Shalisa Kline Ugaz directing the El Valor Violins
The violin, viola and cello classes at El Valor gave a performance for family and friends in Pilsen on Tuesday, April 27. The violin class was lead by Shalisa Kline Ugaz, Merit’s String Department Chair. They played various Suzuki pieces.
Elisabeth Johnson directing the El Valor Violas
Elisabeth Johnson directed the viola class on Perpetual Motion, Twinkle, and some other Suzuki favorites. The cello class was conducted by Alexa Muhly.
The students previewed their selections in preparation for the Comunidad Project Concert on Tuesday, May 4, 5:30pm, in Gottlieb Hall at the Merit School of Music. The Comunidad Project Concert will feature string students from El Valor Pilsen, Galileo Elementary, Whittier Elementary, Harrison Park and the Merit School of Music. The concert is free and open to the public.
The El Valor cello students and their instructor, Alexa Muhly
Apr
27
Zephyr Winds Visit Falconer and Carson
April 27, 2010 | Carson Elementary, Falconer Elementary, School Concerts | Leave a Comment
Merit faculty member Susan Crandall explaining how low and high notes are created on the flute
Today, the Zephyr Woodwind Quintet went on the road again to visit Falconer and Carson Elementary Schools. Merit faculty member explained to the Falconer students how her flute’s notes go from low to high pitches.
The Carson students gladly followed instructions by Barbara Shepherd, Merit faculty member and Director of Private Lessons at Merit, on how to buzz their lips which is needed to play the horn.
Merit faculty member Barbara Shepherd sharing interesting facts about the french horn with Carson students
Students from both schools were fantastic audiences for the quintet.
A NAMM Foundation grant supports the expansion of Merit School of Music’s Band Builders initiative, which enriches band programs in Merit’s Bridges sites with in-school and after-school music instruction. The Falconer and Carson Elementary Bands are two of three recipients of Band Builders.
Apr
25
Zephyr Woodwind Quintet Visits Nixon Elementary, a Band Builders site
April 25, 2010 | Nixon Elementary, School Concerts | Leave a Comment
Asst. Principal Byers introducing the Zephyr Woodwind Quintet
The Zephyr Woodwind Quintet, made up of Merit School of Music faculty and a CPS music teacher, visited Nixon Elementary, a Bridges site, on Tuesday, April 20. Asst. Principal Byers introduced the quintet to about 200 fifth and sixth graders before the quintet started their performance. The students learned about the five instruments that make up a woodwind quintet: flute, oboe, horn, bassoon and clarinet. For the final selection, the quintet asked the students to accompany them as the rhythm section in a rousing rendition of the theme from The Pink Panther.
Zephyr Woodwind Quintet
A NAMM Foundation grant supports the expansion of Merit School of Music’s Band Builders initiative, which enriches band programs in Merit’s Bridges sites with in-school and after-school music instruction. The Nixon Elementary Band is one of three recipients of Band Builders.
Apr
2
MeritFest String Rehearsal at Merit during Spring Break
April 2, 2010 | MeritFest | Leave a Comment
A group of dedicated Bridges string students came to the Merit School of Music on Wednesday, March 31 for an optional string rehearsal in preparation for MeritFest.
Merit faculty member Brian Beach conducting the Intermediate String rehearsal
The Intermediate string rehearsal was led by Merit faculty members Brian Beach and Melanie Clevert-Sarapa.
Merit faculty member Dan Golden conducting the Advanced String rehearsal
The Advanced string rehearsal was led by Merit faculty member Dan Golden. Both groups worked very diligently on the MeritFest material for an hour before Bridges staff provided students with a special treat during their break, donut holes and orange juice! All Bridges students and parents present learned about summer music programs on-site at Merit, especially String Camp (July 26 – August 6).
Melanie Clevert-Sarapa, Merit faculty member, rehearsing with the Intermediate String students
After the break, the students went back to work for another 45 minutes before enjoying the rest of their spring break.
