Liberty Central Schools
Music News Page
 

Liberty MS Band to Perform in Albany

The Liberty Middle School 7th & 8th Grade Band and Jazz Ensemble have been selected to travel to Albany during the month of March to perform in the Empire State Plaza. The groups will perform on Wednesday, March 24th at 1:15 PM in the South Concourse Lobby of the Empire State Plaza. The performance is part of the "Music in our Schools Month" celebration sponsored by the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA). According to Gary Siegel, LCS Director of Music and the conductor of the band and Jazz ensemble, the month of March has been designated as Music in our Schools Month by MENC, a national organization of over 75,000 music educators. Performing groups from all over New York State applied to perform and the Liberty ensembles are among approximately 50 groups selected statewide to perform.

The concert program will take place in the lobby of the South Concourse of the Empire State Plaza and will consist of a variety of music. Senator John Bonacic and Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther are slated to be in attendance at the performances and will be presenting the groups with Legislative Resolutions from the NYS Assembly and Senate commending the LCS music program. After the concert, the students and chaperones will tour the New York State Capitol and the New York State Governor's Mansion. "This is a wonderful musical, educational and social experience for the students" says LMS Principal Mary Greynolds, "and we are so proud to offer this opportunity to the students as it will be something they will remember for the rest of their lives."

JAZZ FESTIVAL TO FEATURE LOCAL BANDS AND PROMINENT EDUCATOR

The Liberty Central School Department of Music will host the 14th Annual LIBERTY JAZZ FESTIVAL, to be held on Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 7:00 PM in the Middle School gymnasium. The festival will feature High School and Middle School jazz ensembles from Liberty and other Monticello School Districts. The students will also have the opportunity to participate in an afternoon clinic (beginning at 3 PM) with a renowned jazz educator “in a non-competitive, constructive format,” according to festival co-chairman and LHS Band Director Dan McConnell.

This year’s clinician is pianist, composer and recording artist Chris Parker. Mr. Parker is the head of Jazz Studies at Orange County Community College in Middletown, New York. A New York Chancellor’s Award winner, Parker engages and inspires students as he teaches them the skills they will need as future jazz musicians. Parker regularly conducts professional clinics in jazz performance including an annual clinic and performance with saxophonist Chris Vadala of the Chuck Mangione Band.

A versatile performer, Parker has appeared in various east coast and west coast jazz clubs and festivals. He has performed in concert venues with such jazz greats as Bob Mintzer, Lyn Seaton and Randy Brecker who appers on Parker’s second album “The Thing Is…”.

Parker has an extensive repertoire of original compositions including classical pieces. Various arts councils and dance companies have commissioned compositions by him. Parker’s lates CD of original jazz compositions “Late in Lisbon”, is getting substantial airplay nationwide.

The clinic will take place from 3 PM – 5:30 PM and the Concert will begin at 7 PM with both taking place in the Liberty MS Gym. Suggested donation for the concert is $5 with a maximum $20.00/family of 4 or more. Donations will benefit the music scholarship fund and will help to defray the cost of the festival. Tickets will be on sale at the door.

For more information contact Gary Siegel at 292-5400 x5117 or email at siegelgar@libertyk12.org.

LCS Music Department Presents Annual Winter Concerts

The Liberty Central School Music Department will present their annual Winter Concerts throughout the month of December. Close to 500 students will be expressing the language of music at these very special performances according to LCS Director of Music, Gary Siegel. To continue the attempt to make the concerts more “audience friendly”, the high school and middle school will be presenting two concerts each. According to Siegel, this began two years ago as the concerts in the past had been “bordering on marathon” so each concert will feature a maximum of four ensembles and will last between 60 -75 minutes in length.

The Tri-M Music Honor Society Induction Ceremony and High School Concert Part 1 will take place on Wednesday, December 2nd (Snow Date 12/7) with the program including performances by the Honors Chamber Orchestra, Honors Chorus and Honors Band. The High School Concert Part 2> will take place on Wednesday, December 9 and will feature the Symphonic Band, Mixed Chorus, String Orchestra, and Jazz Ensemble. The Middle School Concert Part 1 will take place on Thursday, December 10th (Snow Date 12/14). The program will feature the 7/8 String Orchestra, 7/8 Grade Concert Choir, and 7/8 Grade Band and the Middle School Jazz Ensemble. The Middle School Concert Part II will take place on Wednesday, December 16th (Snow Date 12/17) featuring the MS Woodwind Ensemble, 5/6 Orchestra, 5/6 Chorus and 5/6 Band. A variety of music will be performed in all of the concerts. The groups will be performing under the direction of Scott Glasser, Tim Hamblin, Dan McConnell, Emily Ford, and Gary Siegel. The festivities will begin at 7 PM for all of the concerts and will take place in the David E. Panebaker Auditorium at Liberty High School. The concerts are presented as a public service to the community and are FREE!

In addition there will be a Middle School Winter Concert Assembly Program on Friday, December 11th in the HS Auditorium at 12:45 PM. The Elementary School Winter Concert Assembly Program will take place in the ES Gym on Friday, December 18th at 8:30 AM and will feature the 4th Grade Chorus under the direction of Sue Rothschild. These performances are also free and open to the public. For more information email siegelgar@libertyk12.org or call 292-5400 x5117 or go to the school website at www.libertyk12.org.

MUSIC DEPARTMENT EVENTS

December 2: Annual HS Winter Concert Part 1 - Tri-M Honor Society Induction Ceremony, HS Honors Chamber Orchestra, Honors Chorus and Honors Band - HS Auditorium 7 PM (Snow Date 12/7)
December 7: MS Winter Concert dress rehearsal – 7th & 8th Grade Chorus & Orchestra- HS Aud 8-10:15 AM
December 8: MS Winter Concert dress rehearsal - Band & Jazz Ensemble - HS Auditorium 8 AM - 10:15 AM
December 9: Annual HS Winter Concert – Part 2 – HS Symphonic Band, Mixed Chorus, String Orchestra, and Jazz Ensemble - HS Auditorium 7 PM (Snow Date 12/14)
ALSO: Woodwind Ensemble performance for SC Retired Teacher’s Holiday Party – Depart 10:00 AM
December 10: Annual Middle School Winter Concert - Part 1 - 7/8 Orchestra, 7/8 Chorus 7/8 Band and Jazz Ensemble - 7 PM - High School Auditorium. (Snow Date 12/14)
December 11: Middle School Winter Concert Assembly Program –7/8 Orchestra, 7/8 Chorus, 7/8 Band and Jazz Ensemble - High School Auditorium. – 12:45 PM
December 14: MS Winter Concert dress rehearsal – 5th & 6th Grade Orchestra & Chorus - HS Aud 8-10:30 AM
ALSO: Middle School Jazz Ensemble performance at the S.C. Government Center - 12 Noon.
December 15: MS Winter Concert dress rehearsal – 5th & 6th Grade Band - HS Auditorium – 8:45 AM – 10:15 AM
December 16: Annual Middle School Winter Concert - Part 2 - MS Woodwind Ensemble, 5/6 Orchestra, 5/6 Chorus 5/6 Band - 7 PM – HS Auditorium. (Snow Date 12/17)
ALSO: HS Honors Chorus performance at SC Gov’t Center – 12 Noon
December 18: Annual Elementary School Winter Concert Assembly - 8:30 AM - LES Gym
December 21: Music Ensembles perform at Catskill Regional Medical Center (CRMC) – Ensembles and Times To be announced.

Liberty High School Students Named to Music Festival
Liberty CSD Happy to Host This Year’s Festival

Six Liberty High School music students have been selected to participate in the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Area All-State Music Festival to be held at Liberty High School on November 20th & 21st according to Gary Siegel, Director of Music at LCS. Selections are based upon NYSSMA Solo festival ratings and director recommendations. There were over 450 students selected to participate from over 40 school districts from Rockland, Greene, Ulster, Orange and Sullivan counties (NYSSMA Zone 9) Liberty High School students Cherice Wallace Hill (Violin), Taylir Lorino (Viola) and Danielle Strassman (Flute) will be performing with the Area All-State Orchestra, Christine Lazar (Flute) and Dillon Cerullo (French Horn) will be performing with the Area All-State Band and vocalist Zanada Reynolds has been selected to participate in the Area All-State Mixed Chorus. All the selected students are active members of the performing ensembles at Liberty High School. They are under the direction of Scott Glasser – High School Orchestra, Tim Hamblin – High School Chorus and Dan McConnell - High School Band. The students will rehearse on Friday evening (November 20th) and Saturday morning (November 21st) and afternoon with approximately 450 other students from the five county area. Each ensemble will be directed by a guest conductor who is prominent nationally in the music education field. The festival will culminate with two concerts at 3 PM and 5 PM on Saturday, November 21st and will take place in the David E Panebaker Auditorium at Liberty High School. Ticket availability is limited due to the number of students participating; Anyone interested in securing tickets may contact Mr. Siegel by email at siegelgar@libertyk12.org or by calling 845 292-5400 x5117. Donation is $9 for each concert or $15 for both concerts.

Liberty to Host Area All-State Music Festival

The Liberty Central School District will be hosting the Annual New York State School Music Association’s (NYSSMA) Zone 9 Area All-State Music Festival. The festival will take place on November 20th & 21st and will involve approximately 450 of the top high school music students from 42 school districts in Sullivan, Orange, Rockland, Ulster and Greene Counties. “This is an honor and a privilege to host the festival,” says Liberty’s Music Director and this year’s festival chairman Gary Siegel. “There will be two outstanding concerts that will culminate after a vigorous weekend rehearsal schedule for the students.” The students will perform in four ensembles, which are chaired by music educators from Liberty Central School. Guest conductors of state and national prominence in the Music Education field will direct each performing group. Student selection for participation is based on NYSSMA Solo festival ratings and director recommendations. This year there were over 1500 students recommended for the festival and the top 450 students were chosen to participate. The concerts will take place in the David E. Panebaker Auditorium at Liberty High School. Concert 1 will begin at 3 PM and will feature the Area All-State Mixed Chorus directed by Brandon Johnson from Houghton College and the Area All-State Band conducted by Dr. Mark Fonder from Ithaca College. Concert 2 will begin at 5 PM with the Area All-State Women’s Chorale under the direction of Dr. David Crone from Monroe-Woodbury High School and the Area All-State Orchestra under the baton of Dr. Kathleen Horvath of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door (as supplies last). Donation for each concert is $9. For more information call 292-5400 x5117.