POLYARTS
Middle and Upper School
Instrumental Concert
Thursday, May 1, 2025
7:00 PM | Memorial Chapel
A Note from the Performing Arts Department
Tonight’s concert is not only a celebration of the season, but of the progress, dedication, and creativity each student has brought to their ensemble. As we appreciate the sounds and tones of the concert bands, our jazz ensembles, and the orchestration of strings, I am struck by how far these students have come and relish in the fun they’ve had along the way.
Together, these ensembles remind us that growth takes time—but when nurtured with care, it leads to something beautiful. As you listen, we invite you to hear more than just notes on a page. Hear the hard work, the learning, and the friendships behind every phrase. Like spring itself, this concert is a celebration of new beginnings and all of the explorations yet to come.
Ashley Hacker Performing Arts Department Chair
Excellence in the Arts Certificate Program:
Class of 2025: Jason Rodino, Ellen Zwerling
Class of 2026: Ava Barbiere, Eshaan Dangayach, Sylvie Dorsch, Emilio Gittens, Eve Harris, Grover Howell, Jasper Inamoto, Konatsu Iwai, Jack Pfeifer
A Note from the Music Department
Observing instrumentalists in their natural habitat—whether in orchestras, bands, or quartets—can be a captivating experience. Audiences watch as musicians across all sections—strings, winds, and brass—bring their instruments to life, producing sounds and movements that may seem almost otherworldly to the untrained eye. We see bows rise and fall in synchronized waves, hear brass instruments send shimmering notes through the air, and feel the grounding pulse of the percussion anchoring it all.
Through all of these novel sights and sounds, it’s the familiar melodies and harmonies that tie the audience to the music. There’s nothing like the power of a song to bring you so far from and yet close to ‘home’ at the same time! During your time with us tonight, take a moment to see, hear and experience both something mystical and something familiar.
Vincent Iannelli Choral Director & Music Programs Coordinator
BAND
Directed by Chris Benvegna
Grade 7 Band
Ode To Joy
By Ludwig Van Beethoven
Arranged by John Higgins
Ronin Barro, Sydney Battle, Asher Blumberg, Lydia Colarusso, Amina Diagne, Hudson Faurot, Maya Gadsby, Hunter Gill, Zachary Gordon, Reeves Kaitano, Brooks Lewis, Zayna Magnus, Autumn Pelissier, Julia Power, Wyatt Rofey, Peter Schlesinger, Sauren Sheth
Grade 8 Band
Costa Del Sol
By Bruce Pearson & Chuck Elledge
Calvin Cheng, Charlie Corcoran, James Glickman, Eytan Goldberg, Dakori Horsfall, Gus Kumar, Baxton Ling, Nico Masson, Brendon Merchant, Evan Neuman, Zan Pervez, Julian Richards, Hudson Whiteley, John Zaremba
Concert Band
I Can’t Turn You Loose (from The Blues Brothers review)
Arranged by Jay Bocook
Metal Medley
Arranged by Sean O’Loughlin
Hey Jude
By John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Arranged by Robert Longfield
Ava Barbiere, Tyler Chan, Leo Cheng, Eliana Cochrane, Christopher Espinosa Perez Nunez, Rose Filippazzo, Sam Harris, Morgan Hewan-Lowe, Zuva KaitanoPrice, Julian Miravete, Christopher Paidarakis, Gregory Povetko, Lucas Powers Wojtowicz, Clark Spillane
Advanced Band
Canzon per Sonare #4
By Giovanni Gabrieli
Arranged by David Marlatt
Ancient Airs and Dances Suite 1 Balletto
By Ottorino Respighi
Arranged by David Marlatt
Sylvie Dorsch, Lowie Giles, Emilio Gittens, Eve Harris, Grover Howell, Jax Powers Wojtowicz, Jason Rodino, Aiden Yang, Chris Zang
JAZZ
Directed by Dr. Orrin Wilson
Jazz I
Now’s The Time
By Charlie Parker
Arranged by John Berry
Straight No Chaser
By Thelonious Monk
Arranged by John Berry
Scrapple from the Apple
By Charlie Parker
Arranged by Mark Taylor
Aki Fields.......................................................................................................... Alto Saxophone
Logan Geisler .................................................................................................................... Drums
Sadie Hart Alto Saxophone
Austin Nevins-Saunders ................................................................................................. Guitar
Arhan Sengupta Piano
City Smith ............................................................................................................................ Guitar
Jazz II
My Little Suede Shoes
By Charlie Parker
Arranged by Mark
Taylor
Ornithology
By Charlie Parker
Arranged by Mark Taylor
A Night in Tunisia
By John
“Dizzy” Gillespie & Frank Paparelli
Arranged by Roger Holmes
Naomi Bobbitt ......................................................................................................... Vibraphone
Eshaan Dangayach .......................................................................................................... Guitar
Konatsu Iwai Piano
Dean Mcknight ..................................................................................................................... Bass
Jasper Mulligan Drums
Ryan Speaker................................................................................................................. Trumpet
Ellen Zwerling ................................................................................................. Alto Saxophone
STRINGS
Directed by Carrie Dowell
Seventh Avenue Strings
(Grade 7 String Ensemble)
Storm By Soon Hee Newbold
Cameron Fell, Hugo Kotlus, Annika Krahe, Georgia Krasner, Rhett Rendeiro, Ella Shum, Jojo Stoehr, Abigail Vatel, Eleanor Weil, Gabriel Yeung
Seventh Avenue Strings
(Grade 8 String Ensemble)
Canción del Amor
By Tim McCarrick
Storm By Soon Hee Newboldn
Momentous Brian Balmages
Kangsan Dickerson, Fiona Inamoto, Joshua Lee, Camilla Lyubarov, Max Rice, Neil Shankar (Grade 5) Henry Stanfield, Kevin Zhang
String Ensemble STRING RAYS
Summer from “The Four Seasons” III. Presto
By Antonio Vivaldi
Arranged by Jennifer Meckle
Shenandoah
American Traditional
Arranged by David Burndrett
Momentous
By Brian Balmages
Koen Chen, Sebastian Czaplicki, Ally Di Pietra, Jasper Inamoto, Bodhi Kehoe, Diangely Llano, Jack Pfeifer, Lila Rice, Chioma Stanley, Brianna Sylvain, Bryson Sylvain, Brandon Willabus, Leonardo Yang
Advanced Strings
Summer from “The Four Seasons” III. Presto
By Antonio Vivaldi
Arranged by Jennifer Meckle
Koen Chen, Jasper Inamoto, Bodhi Kehoe, Jack Pfeifer, Chioma Stanley, Brandon Willabus, Leonardo Yang
Our Production Would Not Be Possible without the Generous Support of:
John Rankin
Interim Head of School
Michal Hershkovitz P’16, ’18
Assistant Head of School, Academics
Sarah Bates Head of Upper School
Daniel Doughty Head of Middle School
Michael S. Robinson Head of Arts
Ashley Hacker
Performing Arts Department Chair
Vincent Iannelli Music Programs Coordinator
The members of the Performing Arts faculty, the Engagement & Communications Department, the Admissions Department, the Poly Prep IT staff, the Facilities and Maintenance Department, the Security staff, the Kitchen staff, and the Middle & Upper School deans.
Please follow our new Poly Prep ARTS social media pages on Facebook and Instagram for all-things-art at Poly featuring students Nursery–Grade 12.
Join Us for These Upcoming Performing Arts Events
Speech and Debate Showcase
JOSEPH DANA ALLEN LIBRARY
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 | 4:00 PM & 6:10 PM
Upper School Musical Theater Cabaret
POLY ARTS CENTER DANCE STUDIO
Friday, May 16, 2025 | 4:30 PM
Middle School Musical: Disney’s Newsies Jr.
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Jack Feldman
Book by Harvey Fierstein
RICHARD PERRY THEATRE
Friday, May 16, 2025 | 7:00 PM
Saturday, May 17, 2025 | 2:00 PM
Poly Conservatory Recitals
MEMORIAL CHAPEL
Tuesday–Thursday, May 20–22, 2025 | 4:30 PM
Grades 5 & 6 Music Share
MEMORIAL CHAPEL
Wednesday, May 28, 2025 | 10:00 AM
Lower School Grade 4 Music and Dance Share
RICHARD PERRY THEATRE
Thursday, May 29, 2025 | 5:00 PM
Stay tuned for more information about our upcoming events!