Groton Student Musicians Kick Off 2023 with a Flourish
Groton’s student musicians began the year with a busy lineup of performances in January, February, and March.
On January 28, Third Former Sarah Ku won second prize at the prestigious Salem College Organ Competition in Salem, NC. Closer to home, Groton’s Select Chamber musicians performed at St. Paul’s in Brookline, MA, for an audience of parents, alumni, prospective students, friends, and concertgoers. The program included music by Debussy, Haydn, Mozart, Milhaud, and an arrangement for flute, viola, clarinet, and piano of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite by Fourth Form student Alexander Newman. The group also performed the whole program in Groton’s Gammons Recital Hall on February 6.
For the first time since January 2020, Soul Sauce—Groton’s Jazz Ensemble—and other jazz combos traveled into Boston for a performance at an actual music club, the House of Blues in Boston on February 4. Groton students, faculty, parents, and alumni enjoyed tasty refreshments and spirited jazz performances of such tunes as Ellington’s “Caravan” and Gershwin’s “S’Wonderful.” Soul Sauce entertained the crowd and showed that they are ready to take Groton music to Japan when the group travels this June for a Jazz GEO.
On January 28, Third Former Sarah Ku won second prize at the prestigious Salem College Organ Competition in Salem, NC. Closer to home, Groton’s Select Chamber musicians performed at St. Paul’s in Brookline, MA, for an audience of parents, alumni, prospective students, friends, and concertgoers. The program included music by Debussy, Haydn, Mozart, Milhaud, and an arrangement for flute, viola, clarinet, and piano of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite by Fourth Form student Alexander Newman. The group also performed the whole program in Groton’s Gammons Recital Hall on February 6.
For the first time since January 2020, Soul Sauce—Groton’s Jazz Ensemble—and other jazz combos traveled into Boston for a performance at an actual music club, the House of Blues in Boston on February 4. Groton students, faculty, parents, and alumni enjoyed tasty refreshments and spirited jazz performances of such tunes as Ellington’s “Caravan” and Gershwin’s “S’Wonderful.” Soul Sauce entertained the crowd and showed that they are ready to take Groton music to Japan when the group travels this June for a Jazz GEO.
The Music Department hosted a series of six student recitals, giving students in the music lesson program the opportunity to perform. In addition, the Gammons Concert series featured a performance by two professional North Indian classical musicians, Amit Kavthekar on table and Suhail Khan on sarangi. After having a lesson with Mr. Katvthekar, Fourth Form student Dilzafer Singh was invited to join the duo for their final piece.
Three students, music prefect Samuel Winkler ’23, pianist Max Fan ’25, and cellist Brittany Deng ’24 spearheaded Groton’s first-ever Cultural Showcase recital. Students and Director of Instrumental Music Mary Ann Lanier performed music of cultural importance to them and shared their thoughts on the source of the music and why the music was meaningful to them. This event was co-sponsored by Groton music and the student-founded interscholastic Scherzo Music Foundation.
Max was also invited to perform in a New England Conservatory piano recital February 27. With a fellow NEC Prep pianist, he played a four-hand piano piece by Erik Satie called “Three Pieces in the Form of a Pear.”
Students who spent their winter afternoons practicing and performing music took a short ride to Nashoba Park Assisted Living on March 1 to play for residents. Dilzafer, Brittany, and Max were a big hit with the residents after they shared music and conversation.
Eric Ge ’24, Olivia Ding ’26, and Alexander Newman ’25 won spots in the Massachusetts Music Educators All-State Festival. They spent a long day rehearsing on March 3. Unfortunately, the performance at Boston’s Symphony Hall was postponed but the four All-State ensembles performed for each other at the end of the day. The music was expertly played by all four ensembles—jazz band, chorus, orchestra, and symphonic band—and spirit and mutual support were very high. Hopefully, the concert will be rescheduled for an early April date.
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