January 28, 2022—Performing Arts Department Head Felicia Brady-Lopez describes the Performing Arts Block (PAB) as a “stepping stone” for Lower School students who wish to take performing arts courses in the Upper School. The PAB is required for Class I and Class II and optional for Class III and Class IV. Students spend all year working in their chosen discipline or trying new things. This year, students in PAB classes prepared a concert series to showcase their work.
Originally scheduled for January 23, the winter PAB concert was reimagined as two mini concerts during the school day after a surge in COVID-19 cases affected the school’s visitor policy. The entire Lower School gathered on Tuesday, January 25 and Friday, January 28 to enjoy two 40-minute concerts. A list of performances is below. The Tuesday show featured the Lower School Wind Ensemble, Lower School Chorus, and soloists,
watch here. The Friday show featured the Lower School String Ensemble and Lower School Dance Ensemble,
watch here.
In the spring, Lower School students will perform with their ensembles again.
Lower School wind ensemble:
Directed by Samantha Spear and featuring clarinets, flutes, and saxophone, the students in the wind ensemble performed:
-
“Ode to Joy” from Symphony No. 9 by Ludwig van Beethoven
-
“Lightly Row,” a German folk song
-
“When the Saints Go Marching In”
Lower School chorus:
Wearing coordinating outfits of black and white, Choral Director Andrew Marshall led the students in singing three pieces:
-
“Milk for the Cat” by E. J. Robertson
-
“The Fox and the Cat” by E. J. Roberson
-
“I Heard Someone Crying” from the musical The Secret Garden
Soloists:
Two soloists joined the Performing Arts Block concert.
-
Eunha Basu ’28 on piano played Nocturne Op. 15 No. 2 by Frederic Chopin.
-
Chloe Wang ’28 danced the ballet, “Harlequinade,” an adaptation of Marius Petipa’s choreography by Daoyuan Chen with music by Riccardo Drigo.
Lower School string ensemble:
Lower School dance ensemble:
Separating into three dance styles, students took the stage to perform dances of their own creation set to a variety of music tracks.
- Contemporary
- “La Valse d’Amelie” by Yann Tiersen
- “Stand by You” by Rachel Platten
- “Welcome to Wonderland” by Anson Seabra
- Pop
- “Levitating” by Dua Lipa
- “Roar” by Katy Perry
- “Good as Hell” by Lizzo
- “Dynamite” by BTS
- “Carol of the Bells” by Lindsey Sterling
- “Runaway” by Aurora
- Hip Hop
- “Promise” by Hakiri, Jay Park, and Masawei