Select 1 Combo Introduces Jazz to Worcester Students
Rivers’ Select 1 Combo performed at Mechanics Hall on Monday, April 3 as the featured combo in an Introduction to Jazz program for Worcester Public School students. Organized by Rich Falco, Director of Jazz Studies at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, the program has been introducing jazz to elementary and middle school students for the past 15 years. The Rivers combo performed two 30-minute concerts before thousands of school children, in grades 3 through 5 and grades 6 through 8.
“We were thrilled to be invited to perform with this successful and long-standing program, and share our excitement about jazz with so many young kids,” said Jazz Band Director Philippe Crettien.
The Select Combo performed four tunes to illustrate the different jazz styles: a Bebop jazz piece entitled “Ornithology” by Charlie Parker; a Funky tune called “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” by Joe Zawinul, a Bossa Nova entitled “Once I Loved” by Antônio Carlos Jobim, and a Jewish folk song called “Shir Hanonded.”
“I am so impressed with the Rivers students!” said Falco after their performances. “They performed at the highest level possible and shared their love of jazz music with infectious joy.”
Members of the Select 1 Combo are: Joe Nedder ’18, trombone; Alex Gomez ’17, alto saxophone; Uli Schwendener ’17, piano; Joel Manasseh ’20, bass; and Michael Manasseh ’19, drums. All of them are enrolled in the Conservatory Program at Rivers, a unique program for student musicians with a serious commitment to the study and performance of jazz and other genres of music. The ensemble earned a Gold Medal at the MAJE State Combo Competition and 3rd Place at the Berklee High School Jazz Competition in 2016. This year they placed 5th at Berklee, and Joe Nedder received individual recognition for his performance as a part of both the Big Band and the Select 1A Combo.
Michael Manasseh and Joe Nedder also played at the All State Festival, sponsored by the Massachusetts Music Educators Association in March at Symphony Hall. Manasseh was the only percussionist chosen to perform, making him the “state drummer,” while Nedder was one of four trombonists chosen for the jazz band.
© 2021 The Rivers School. All Rights Reserved
Rivers admits academically qualified students and does not discriminate against students or families on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or ethnic or national origin in the administration of its educational programs, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic programs, and other school-administered programs.