Rivers Musicians Perform with Honors
Rivers student musicians, including classical, jazz, and vocal performers, recently participated in two different competitions and walked away with significant honors.
Six students who attended the Senior District Auditions on November 19, sponsored by the Massachusetts Music Educators Association, were accepted to participate in the Senior District Music Festival. They are: Lindy Billhardt ’19, String Bass – Orchestra; Ella Caggiano ’19, Chorus; Alex Clay ’18, Clarinet – Band; Michael Manasseh ’19, Drum Set – Jazz Band; Joseph Nedder ’18, Trombone – Jazz Band; and Simonida Spasojevic ’19, Flute – Band. The Festival will take place Friday and Saturday, January 6 and 7, at Boston Latin School.
In addition, three of the above students received recommendations to audition in January for the MMEA All State Festival which is held in the spring: Alex Clay, Michael Manasseh, Joseph Nedder.
Shortly after, the Conservatory Program’s Vocal Ensemble was a finalist in the International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition (ICMEC), held in Jordan Hall at New England Conservatory on Sunday, December 4. There were eight ensembles in the final round, which included only two high school groups among college and professional level ensembles. Rivers’ Vocal Ensemble, directed by Susan Emmanouilidis, received Honorable Mention. The singers are: Michaela Francesconi ’19, Nazeli Hagen ’17, Natalie Hall ’19, Isabel Hardy ’18, Bathabile Khumalo ’17, Joseph Nedder ’18, Rebecca Stachel ’19, Margo Sugarman ’20, and Jianna Voghel ’17.
"It was an honor for the Vocal Ensemble singers to move into the final round of a competition that recognizes a high level of artistic performance," said Ms. Emmanouilidis. "As their coach, it was exciting to watch these singers walk onto the stage at Jordan Hall, completely on their own. I was dazzled by their professional demeanor and impressed by their ability to create a unified choral sound by focusing on and interacting with each other during performance."
Looking ahead, the Rivers Select 1 Combo has been invited to perform at Mechanics Hall on April 3 as the featured combo at 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 combo will perform two 30-minute concerts before thousands of school children, in grades 3 through 5 and grades 6 through 8.
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.
“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.
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