student spotlight
By Megan Roth
Orchestra Rocks
NAHS orchestra earns award for rock-inspired musical
Photo courtesy of New Albany Theatre
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Photo courtesy of Loganm Jarema
T
aking on the works of songwriting icons Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, responsible for 70 some chart hits, is no easy task, but the pit orchestra of New Albany High School’s production of Smokey Joe’s Cafe proved more than capable. The spring 2021 production, which featured hits such as “Stand by Me” and “Jailhouse Rock,” earned the group a CAPA Marquee Award for Outstanding Student Orchestra. “(The CAPA award) provides me with a sense of accomplishment in knowing that all the hard work we put into (the musical) really did pay off,” says tenor and baritone saxophonist Connor Ferguson, a NAHS junior. “I’m really proud of everyone in the pit and the cast.” As a standing member of the Broadway League, CAPA uses its annual Marquee Awards to highlight exceptional high school musical theater education and productions. Three judges attend performances of musicals by each of the
participating high schools and then nominate recipients for the 11 individual and group awards.
The NAHS performances of Smokey Joe’s Cafe at the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts garnered the pit orchestra an award. As a musical revue that loosely connects skits, songs and dances inspired by Leiber and Stoller’s music, Smokey Joe’s Cafe hinges upon a strong pit orchestra. The musical features nearly 40 different songs, ranging from rock and roll classics to blues anthems and everything in between. That hefty setlist stands out compared to what students typically encounter. “In a musical, there’s two hours’ worth of music,” says electric bassist Zachary Bowman, a junior. “That’s nothing compared to a little high school performance where you have maybe three songs in front of you.” To manage the breadth of material and high caliber of music the score demands did not come without a lot of hard work. www.healthynewalbanymagazine.com
