The Catskill Chronicle

Story and photos by Ted Waddell

LIBERTY – The folks who organized the Sullivan County Music Educators’ Association (SCMEA) 56th Annual All-County Music Festival had a musical field day as they packed the house at Liberty High School for two soul-stirring concerts on Saturday, March 6.

As a 4th grader at Livingston Manor, Gary Siegel participated in his first all-county music festival, and for the last 45 years has been involved with the popular festival, either as a music student until graduating in 1976, or a few years down the road as chairperson.

Siegel is now the director of music at Liberty High and served as chairperson of the 2010 music festival that featured approximately 450 students representing Sullivan County schools.

Concert I – Music: The Universal Language

“Today you will hear hundreds of students from all eight Sullivan County school districts as we carry on a 56-year musical tradition,” Siegel said during his opening remarks… “in times like these, advocacy of music and arts programs is essential”, and encouraged parents to step up to the plate for their kids’ total-package education to let board members and administrators “know how essential music education in a child’s life to make them a whole person.”

“Music teaches kids to critically think and problem-solve, and as you have probably heard studies show that students who participate in music in school score better on standardized tests.”

In addition to family and friends of the students and teachers, in attendance were several dignitaries who addressed the assemblage and who attended the first round of the concerts: John Bonacic. NYS Senator, 42nd Senatorial District; Aileen Gunther, NYS Assemblywoman, 98th Assembly District; and Jodi Goodman, Sullivan County Legislator, District 6.

“Whatever sunshine we have today and tomorrow, it will pale in the light of the  talent of these young men and women that you will hear today,” said NYS Senator John Bonacic in addressing the crowd assembled in Liberty High School’s auditorium before the start of the 56th Annual Sullivan County Music Educators Association’s (SCMEA) All-County Music Festival.

Bonacic then read a legislative resolution that recognized the 2010 music festival. “The young people of Sullivan County…have demonstrated exceptional talent in musical pursuits…the Sullivan County music educators have come together to form the [SCMEA) in an effort to improve and expand the many talents of the young people…”

“This festival is illustrative of the commitment of the administrators of all eight Sullivan County schools district to provide a full and comprehensive music programs in their districts,” he added.

NYS Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther called for a round of applause for the festival and then told the crowd that music education played an important part in the life of her son Jacob, as after learning how to play the trumpet and piano in high school, “now he has a wonderful career as a teacher.”

“The young people of Sullivan County have developed exceptional talent in music,” she said before reading a proclamation from the assembly, which said in part, “It is the sense of this legislative body that music contributes significantly to the cultural enrichment and quality of life” in the state, [and} music has evolved to be an important part of the education of the young people.”

Concert I took place at 3 p.m. and featured the string orchestra, the elementary chorus and the middle school band.

The string orchestra was conducted by Christine Gero, who has studied and performed in various setting, from Carnegie Hall to CBGB’ in New York/ Her work in alternative musical genres include studies with acclaimed jazz violinist John Blake, Jr as well as performances and recording with rock groups in NYC and Seattle. Gero currently is orchestra director at Nyack High School, liberty and Valley Cottage Elementary Schools.

The string orchestra performed “Folk Tune with Fiddle Dance” by Percy Fletcher, “The Girl with the Flaxen Hair” by Claude Debussy (arranged by Deborah Baker Monday), and Alan Lee Silva’s “The Spirit”.

The elementary chorus was conducted by Naomi Katz Cohen, currently in her 16th year of teaching vocal and general music. In the wake of teaching for 11 years at The Chapin School of Music in the city, she now serves as music director at the SAR Academy, a Modern Orthodox co-ed Yeshiva in Riverdale, NY. Cohen was recently the featured soloist with the West Hartford Symphony Orchestra and was featured as a soprano soloist singing the Vivaldi Gloria and the Shubert Mass in G with the Glass Menagerie.

The elementary chorus performed Bob Chilcott’s “Can You Hear Me?”, “Cold and Fugue Season” by J. S. Bach (arr. by Ellen Foncannon), “Al Schlosha D’Varim” by Allan Naplan, and “Sansa Kroma, an African folksong arranged by Michael Scott.

Richard Johnson, a graduate of the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potdam, was guest conductor of the middle school band. After working as director of instrumental music and musical activities at Roscoe Central School, Johnson had the opportunity to live and study composition in Melbourne, Australia where he studied under the renowned Australian composers Brenton Broadstock and Stuart Greenbaum.

The middle school band performed a wide range of works including “fanfare and Flourishes” by James Curnow, three classic miniatures as arranged by Leroy Jackson (a German dance by Joseph Haydn, a minuet by George Philipp Telemann, and a trumpet tune by Henry Purcell), what was billed as a ‘Dixieland Spectacular’ by John Edmondson (“Dinah”, “Tin Roof Blues,” “High Society”) and from “Indiana Jones,” one of the most rousing adventure films of all time, John Williams’ “Raiders March” as arranged by Jack Bullock.

Concert II – The Illuminating Light of Music in Our Hearts

After the conclusion of Concert I, Concert II, held at 5:30 p.m. featured performances by the junior high jazz ensemble, junior high women’s chorus, junior high mixed chorus, and the senior high band.

Frank Petrocelli, a graduate of Liberty Class of 1985 returned to his high school alma mater as guest conductor of the junior high jazz ensemble. As an active freelance musician who performs with big bands, jazz trios, and wind ensembles, he has also been a soloist and performed with the Kalamazoo Symphony, West Shore Symphony and Greater Newburgh Symphony.

The junior high jazz ensemble performed four spirited works: “”Stolen Moments” by Oliver Nelson (arr. by Mark Taylor), “Cubano Chant” by Ray Bryant (arranged by Mike Story), “My Funny Valentine by Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers (arr. Sammy Nestico), and Herbie Hancock’s “Cantaloupe Island” arr. Mike Kamuf.

Janiece Kohler, founder of the Halcyon Singers and music director of the Orange County Classic Choral Society and Orchestra, conducted the junior high women’s chorus. She is also director at the First Presbyterian Church of Washingtonville and minister of music at the Blooming Grove United Church of Christ.

The junior high women’s choir, accompanied by Leon Hilfsten on piano, performed “Gloria Deo (arr. Mary Lynn Lightfoot, “When I Close My Eyes” (arr. Jim Papoulis & Francesco Nunez), “Ding-A Ding-Ding”  )arr. Greg Gilpin, “Firefly” (arr. Andy Beck), and Aaron Copeland’s “Zion’s Walls” (arr. Glenn Kopenen.

Penelope Cruz directed the junior mixed chorus, which was accompanied on piano by Dominic Daurio. She is currently the choir director at White Plains High School and serves on the NYS board of the American Choral Directors Association as the repertoire and standards chair for multicultural and ethnic
perspectives, as a member of the NYSSMA diversity committee, and as area all-state chorus co-chair for Westchester County.

The junior high mixed chorus performed G. F. Handel’s “Hallelujah, Amen” (arr. Liebergen), “I’ll Say it Anyway” (Je le vous diral!) by Pierre Certon, “My Heart’s in the Highlands” by Lon Berry, a Sephardic folk song titled “Durme, Durme” (arr. Snyder), and “The Storm is Passing” by Charles Albert Tindley (arr. Baker).

Michael Williams returned to Liberty High after a decade as the school’s band director in the role of guest conductor of the senior high band, and in a noteworthy sidebar, his daughters Brittany and Gillian both took center stage during the all-county music festival. Williams is a founding member of the Anthracite Brass Quartet, and in the past has worked with heavy hitters in the music biz such as Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis and Frank Sinatra.

The senior high band performed “Pentland Hills March” by Capt. James W. Howe, “Chorale and Alleluia” by Howard Hanson,”Fantasy On American Sailing Songs” by Clare Grundman, and in honor of out recent record snow storms, Robert W. Smith’s “Into the Storm”.

Gary Siegel, chairperson of the 56th All-County Music Festival, quoted Victor Hugo as he reminded the crowd, “Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.”

“Music is truly the universal language,” said Siegel. “Let there always be music in our hearts and music programs in our schools.”

To view more photos or to purchase prints from the 56th Annual All-County Music Festival visit the Chronicle on Zenfolio.