Fine Arts Week Kicks Off with Jazz Night at Log College

Centennial School District's annual Fine Arts Week got off to a swinging start as the middle school and high school jazz bands and the William Tennent choral groups entertained a packed auditorium at Tuesday evening.

It was the first of three nights dedicated to promoting young musicians and artists throughout the school district, a temporary reduction of the usual weeklong entertainment due to the loss of  auditorium while the new high school is constructed.

"It's a little frustrating," said Tennent music director Joseph Lovecchio. "But I keep telling myself the short term pain will become a long term gain."

Normally, Lovecchio said, every night would feature a certain sect of the district music and art departments, with Monday dedicated to the orchestras, Wednesday the night for the vocal groups and Thursday for the bands. The lack of the high school orchestra meant that rehearsal times had to be coordinated with the middle school and elementary bands at Log College and , forcing reduced practice times for everybody.

"It's not as exciting as it usually is," said Lovecchio. "We would have a big build up the week before, but not this year. It's much more muted."

The ones who should have the biggest regrets over the situation are the graduating seniors that don't get to end their year with as big a bang as previous and future classes. Even though they are getting shortchanged, Lovecchio is impressed at their professionalism.

"They've been absolutely handling it great," he said. "There's been a little bit of sadness, but nobody has complained. In the past, we would have huge audiences of 1,200 to 1,300 people in the auditorium. They're not going to have that experience."

An appreciative audience at Log College Tuesday night cheered the trumpet and trombone solos as several musicians took advantage of their moments to shine. The Log College Jazz Band, led by Gina Lenox, started things off with Cab Calloway and Irving Mills' "Minnie, the Moocher" and worked their way through jazz standards, including Chuck Mangione's "Land of Make Believe" and James Peterik's "Vehicle."

The William Tennent High School Chorale then took the stage under the direction of Tyrone Dinkins, to perform familiar classics, such as Sting's "Fields of Gold." They were followed by the Klinger Jazz Band, with director Kristen De Lia taking the group through selections including "Back in the Day" by Larry Neeck. 

After Dinkins returned with the Tennent Madrigal Singers to perform songs such as Imogen Heap's "Hide and Seek," the Tennent Jazz Band closed the night under the direction of Joseph Lovecchio. The 14-piece band knocked out songs including Duke Ellington's "It Don't Mean a Thing" and Nancy Hamilton's "How High the Moon."

Fine Arts week continues Thursday night when the district elementary bands and choruses perform at Klinger at 7:30 p.m. The week wraps up with an art showcase on the first floor of William Tennent Friday night at 7:30 p.m.