On the evening of November 11, Belmont Hill held its first in-person concert since the beginning of the pandemic, showcasing the talents of musicians and actors from all forms. The B-Flats opened the concert with their rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” followed by Bob Marley’s “Forever Young.” Members Koame Kota, Jacob Czarnecki ’22, Gabe Klug ’22, and (ONE MORE—idk his name) then sang The Four Seasons’ 1962 hit, “Sherry,” as well as “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers—a Belmont Hill classic—and concluded their performance with that same artist’s soulful 1977 release, “Lovely Day.”
The Upper School Jazz Ensemble played next, opening their set with the work of one of Mr. Fiori’s favorite tenor saxophonists, Oliver Nelson. They finished with Bill Watrous’ Latin-inspired “Tiger of San Pedro.” Following several musical performances, students flaunted their acting skills through select scenes from the school production, Take Ten. The audience was then transported back into the world of jazz as the Middle School Jazz Ensemble performed Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers’ notorious piece, “Moanin’.”
Middle School Jazz Ensemble: Moanin—Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers.
The All-School Orchestra closed the concert with two classical compositions. They began with Jacques Offenbach’s “Barcarolle,” whisking audiences into the romantic era. George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” brought a thunderous and vibrant end to the night.
On December 3, the more-informal Coffee House was held. The B-Flats, Middle School Jazz Ensemble, and Upper School Jazz Ensembles all returned to perform their repertoire. Koame Kota was the standout musician of the night, playing piano, clarinet, and the ukelele in addition to several vocal performances.
The Fall Concert and Coffee House served as the student’s first opportunity to perform in-person in over a year. Although the audience remained masked, their presence alone marked a significant change; as Belmont Hill continues to loosen its restrictions, the music department will gradually return to pre-pandemic normalcy.
