The Music Department hosted its annual year-end studio recitals during the three days of April 29th, April 30th, and May 6th. The music featured a diverse selection of musical genres, from jazz to pop to classical. This year, the recitals displayed not only private lesson students, but also members of the B-Flats and Mr. Patterson’s Piano I class, totaling roughly sixty performers.
The first night began with voice, guitar, and piano. The performances opened with Sam Hastings ’30 playing Tale of the Troubadour on the guitar before diving into a variety of genres. There were plenty of vocals, with several members of the B-Flats finishing their final solos of the year. On guitar, Pierce Courtney ’28 even debuted his own song, something he had been working on all year. Students of Mr. Patterson’s Piano I class were also present, showcasing the talents they had discovered throughout the year.
The following day, the recital doors opened once more, this time featuring alto saxophone, voice, and piano. There were plenty of B-Flats performers, with highlights being Thomas Sheehan ’25 singing Otherside by The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Alex Tosi’s solo of Con te Partiro. On the jazz side, the saxophone students played beautifully, the night ending with an impressive performance from Brandon Li ’26 of Footprints by Wayne Shorter. The piano students performed both classical and pop, the saga finishing with Jianji Hou ’28 playing Sonata #5 in C minor, Movement 1 by Beethoven.
The final night also featured plenty of instruments, including drums, trumpet, voice, piano, and guitar. The students on the drums performed pop, rock, and even jazz, with songs such as Iron Zion Lion by Bob Marley, Dynamite by Taio Cruz, or even Song for My Father by Horace Silver. This variety was exemplified throughout the night, next with the two trumpeters displaying two contrasting genres. First, James Palumbo ’28 showcased a moving performance of Edelweiss from The Sound of Music, while Jake Ma ’27 presented the introduction from Carnival of Venice by Jean Arban, the two pieces over a century apart. Continuing the classical theme, Rylan Flynn ’27, another member of Mr. Patterson’s Piano class, performed Minuet by Bach. Members of the B-Flats continued their solos, joined by students taking vocal lessons, with a variety of artists represented from Carroll Coates to Billy Joel, and even Zach Bryan.
When asked about the studio recitals, Mr. Fiori responded, “They’re great. It’s an interesting mix because you’ve got some kids who are beginners on their instruments and others who have more years of experience. We have jazz music, classical music, and pop music. Everything’s kind of covered in it. It’s a nice mix of genres.” Overall, this year’s studio recitals are ones to remember – a huge step-up compared to previous recitals, with the increase in performers showing Belmont Hill’s ever-growing musical talent.
