Rivers Musicians Take Top Prizes

“It was a really strong performance,” says Philippe Crettien, jazz department chair. The format of the competition requires entrants to perform three pieces that they have selected and arranged. The combo performed two pieces by Thelonious Monk, “Epistrophy” and “In Walked Bud,” as well as Kenny Dorham’s “Short Story”—a program, says Crettien, that varied in style and level of difficulty. In addition to winning a gold at this state-level competition, the judges recognized three students—Michael Manasseh ’19 (drums), Joel Manasseh ’20 (bass), and Henry Lewis ’20 (piano)—with outstanding musicianship awards. All three are students in the Conservatory Program, which offers students the opportunity to pursue in-depth music training. Crettien says that the launch of that program, 15 years ago, was “a game changer for us. It uplifts the whole program and has yielded incredible results.”

Perhaps the most valuable part of the state competition, says Crettien, was the private 30-minute clinic conducted by one of the judges. “They critique your work and give you pointers to improve,” he says. “It’s so useful.”

The win comes on top of a gold medal by Rivers’s honors big band in the MAJE senior district competition in March. The performance earned the honors big band an invitation to the state-level competition—which Rivers sat out because the event fell during spring break. At March’s big band competition, Michael Manasseh was named the day’s MVP, which Crettien calls “a huge honor.”

The music season is winding down, but there will be a few more opportunities to hear the jazz ensembles. The honors big band will perform on Alumni Day, May 11, at Bradley Hall. On May 19, the Select 1 jazz combo will take the stage at the Hatch Shell on Boston’s Esplanade at 3:00, along with other gold-medal winners from throughout the state. That same evening, the big band will perform at the Amazing Things Arts Center in Framingham.

Meanwhile, three groups from Rivers also participated in the MICCA solo and ensemble festival this past weekend. The Conservatory Program vocal ensemble earned a silver rating, the Middle School quintet garnered a gold rating, and the Middle School trio came away with a gold rating and an invitation to the honors concert. Dan Shaud, Conservatory Program director, noted that this last is the festival’s top honor, reserved for the most outstanding groups.