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Several lower school performing arts groups got together in early December for the 2015 Lower School Winter Concert, directed by Louis Hoffman, who also conducted lower school’s Jazz Ensemble and Orchestra. Other featured groups included the Bucknall Choir, conducted by Kellie Binney-Smart and Carena Montany, the Lower School String Ensemble, conducted by Toni Woodruff, and the Preparatory String Ensemble, also directed by Woodruff.
The evening program included performances of pieces both classic and modern, many of them selected for their seasonal appropriateness. Highlights included the Jazz Ensemble’s performance of “Cold Duck Time” by Eddie Harris, a rendition of the traditional “A Festive Holiday” by the Preparatory String Ensemble, a selection of Christmas tunes performed by the String Ensemble and the Lower School Orchestra’s show-closing performance of Mozart’s “The Abduction from the Seraglio.”
A number of special guests also found their way into the show, including the Grade 6 Orchestra, conducted by Dave Hart, performing Soon Hee Newbold’s “Spirit of the American West.”
Several music teachers, including those from Harker’s after-school music programs, also performed at two junctures during the show. The first, a rendition of “Comin’ Home Baby” by Ben Tucker, featured Teresa Orozco on flute, Hart on trumpet, Chris Motter and Owen Stewart-Robinson on guitar, Joshua Thurston-Milgrom on double bass and Rick Algeria on drums. Later, teachers again took the stage for a performance of Georg Philipp Telemann’s “Concerto in D Major for 4 Violins,” performed by Pierre Dazin on violin, Woodruff on viola, Rick Leder on piccolo trumpet, Natachia Li on cello and Thurston-Milgrom again on double bass.