Arts & Entertainment
High School Jazz Turn Talents Into Funds
Southington High School musicians return for 2nd annual fundraiser at First Congregational Church Sunday.
The Southington High School's Jazz band returned for a second year to perform at the First Congregational Church of Southington's 'A Little Dinner & A Little Jazz' fundraiser.
This was their second gig this weekend. The band just returned the day before from Boston after traveling there to compete in the Berklee College of Music Annual High School Jazz Festival.
The band placed at Honorable Mention, the equivalent of 4th place. The competition is the largest of its kind in the country with more than 3,000 student musicians and 200 bands participating. It includes big bands, combos and vocal ensembles.
The fundraiser had a great turnout in part due to the fabulous donation of food by Betsy Tooker and John Salerno of Tops Market. Dinner of pasta, meatballs and salad was tasty and additional tables were being set up as late as 6:00 p.m. to accommodate latecomers.
"The admission of $10 per person or $25 for families of three will benefit the Board of Music and Arts at the church" said Polly Sawer, church member and event volunteer.
"There's so much that goes on here in the way of entertainment - The Peace Cafe, Steeple Players, Senior Choir, Branches (children's choir), Roots (contemporary choir), Mustard Seeds, and Hand Bell Choir will benefit from monies raised," Sawer said.
"We're very excited to see the Jazz Band play. It would be great if they had more opportunities to play around town because they're really are high caliber"said atendee Joan Schmidt over dinner.
The church asked Mr. Jeffrey Shaw, SHS Music Chairperson, for a repeat performance after last year's success.
"They invited us here again by saying the magic word - food," Shaw said in greeting the audience.
The music began with 'Switching Gears' arranged by Lars Halle and included other favorites,'Point of No Return' by Eric Richards,'Get In Line' by Gordon Goodwin, 'Portrait of Winnette' by Mark Taylor and 'Guy Noir's Brother' by Les Hooper.
"Why did the trombone player cross the road? To get to the other slide," trombone player Evan Gray joked with the audience.
There was no joking with the skill level of this band. Audience members clapped loudly commenting "wow" as after the last song played.
"The goal of a high school jazz band is to not sound like high school players" said Shaw. "These students are often multi-tasking by playing in Marching Band, Orchestra along with other demanding coursework. It's because of Marching Band that the sound is so well put together. All that double duty practice does in fact pay off."
