Darien High School Holiday Spectrum Concert 2019

The Darien High School Music Department presented their 2019 Holiday Spectrum Concert on Wednesday, December 18 in the Darien HS auditorium The concert featured the Wind Ensemble, Pops Strings, Concert Choir, Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Tudor Singers, Concert Orchestra, A Cappella Vocal Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, String Quaret, Concert Band, and Jazz Combo.  All of the ensembles joined forces to perform Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride" as their concert finale. The Darien HS Music Department ensembles are conducted by Christopher Andrade, Jonathan Grauer, and Jane Minnis. 

If you would like to hear the entire Holiday Spectrum concert you can access the video at:

https://youtu.be/NGxd00oy7_4

Middlesex Presents 2019 Winter Chorus Concert

The MMS Grade 6 Chorus performing their Winter Concert on Wednesday, December 11 at Darien High School. The Middlesex Choral Directors are Mrs. Kimberly Sadler and Mr. Thomas O'Donnell.

The 6th grade Viva Voce choral ensemble is co-directed by Mrs. Rebecca Parnoff and Mrs. Kimberly Sadler.

The MMS 7th Grade Chorus performed Duke Ellington's "Take the A Train" "Count on Me" by Bruno Mars and "Jinglin'" Bells" on December 11th.

The 8th Grade chorus under the direction of Kimberly Sadler and Thomas  O'Donnell started of the 8:00 p.m. Concert with "High Hopes," "Shallow" and "Cool Yule."

The MMS Camerata Singers directed by Mrs. Kimberly Sadler and accompanied by Mr. Dwayne Condon closed out the MMS Chorus Concert on December 11th and featured soloists: Elizabeth Gonnella, Kendall O'Hoppe and Lilla Slattery.
 

To hear both of the MMS Choral Concerts you can go to: 

Live Stream link for Grade 6, 7 and Viva Voce Concert at 6:30 p.m. December 11, 2019

https://youtu.be/sHp5PCOXHO4

Live Stream Link for Grade 8 Chorus and Camerata Singers Concert 8:00 p.m. December 11, 2019

https://youtu.be/UijP90cZMZM

Tokeneke 2019 Winter Concert

Mr. Curley conducts the Tokeneke Band at the Tokeneke Winter Concert on Tuesday, December 10th.

Ms. Hanley conducts the Tokeneke Orchestra to a full house on December 10th.

Mrs. Parnoff directs the Tokeneke School Chorus in "Solfege Santa" on December 10th.

DHS Tudor Singers and MMS Camerata Perform at Stamford Palace

Our DHS Tudor Singers, under the direction of Christopher Andrade, and MMS Camerata Singers under the direction of Kimberly Sadler were featured in the "Songs of the Season" show at the Palace in Stamford on Sunday, December 8th.

Our Darien Tudor Singers and Camerata Singers combined with the Greenwich Elementary Honors Choir for the grand finale on December 8th.

Palace Performance Darien Tudor Singer&Camerata Singer plus Greenwich Elementary Honors Choir

You can hear the entire Palace concert at:  https://youtu.be/C96zfzZErls

"Songs of the Season" concert at the Palace Theatre, Stamford Connecticut, December 8, 2019.
Featuring the Greenwich Elementary Honors Choir, Middlesex Middle School Camerata, and Darien High School Tudor Singers.

Middlesex Orchestras Present Winter Concert 2019

The Middlesex Middle School Orchestras presented their Winter Concert on Monday, December 9 at Darien High School. The 6th Grade Orchestra, pictured above, opened the concert with Bizet's "Fanandole." The Orchestra Ensembles are directed by Mr. Austin Scelzo and assisted by Mr. Dylan Spielvogel.

The 7th Grade Orchestra performed "Hark the Herald Fiddles Play," "Emperor Waltz,"  and "St. Louis Blues."

The 8th Grade Orchesra performing "March" from the Nutcracker on December 9th.

The MMS ROCKestra performed "Chameleon," "Lean On Me," and "Sweet Dreams Are Made of These/Seven Nation Army."

Darien Music Ensembles Perform at Stamford Town Center

Several musical ensembles from the Darien Public Schools performed at the Stamford Town Center during the week of December 2-6 as part of the "Holidays in Harmony" Concert series. Small ensembles from the Darien HS Band, the DHS Tudor Singers, DHS Orchestra, and the Tokeneke Elementary School Chorus and MMS Rockestra all performed holiday music for audiences at the Stamford mall.

The Darien HS Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Ms. Jane Minnis performing at the Stamford Town Center on Wednesday, December 5th

Middlesex Bands Present their 2019 Winter Concert

Our Middlesex Middle School Bands presented their Winter Concert on Thursday, December 5 in the Darien HS auditorium. The 6th Grade Band, directed by Mrs. Gretchen Perrett, opened the concert with "Apollo Fanfare" by Robert W. Smith.

The 7th Grade Band, under the direction of Brandon Babbin, performing "Freefall!!" on the 2019 MMS Winter Band Concert.

The MMS 8th Grade Band under the direction of James Carter. 

The MMS Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of James Carter, featured several jazz soloists.

DHS Strings: Midday Music Holidays in Harmony

The DHS Chamber Orchestra students presented their second Midday Music recital on Wednesday, December 4 during the power hours time block. Christopher Van Ingen, Ellis Murphy, Andrew Lin and Michael Dong perform "March of the Nutcracker."

Rowan Kennedy, Emily Wiley, Saskia Zimmerman, Meghan Shaughnessy and Jack Roberson performed "Christmas Time Is Here" to an audience of students, teachers and administrators.

Catherine O'Connor, Anika Satish, Kai Zhou and Jack Roberson performing "Feliz Navidad." The event was planned and organized by DHS Orchestra Director Jane Minnis.

Jazz Quartet Performs for DHS Students

A professional Jazz Quartet performed for Darien High School Music students on Tuesday, December 3 in support of the Music Department's Curricular Focus theme on Jazz. The musicians performed  Jazz standards for our students and featured  Jakob Ebers on bass, Hiroshi Yamazaki on piano, Maddie Winters, sax and vocals and John Cutrone drums.

Jazz saxophonist and vocalist Maddie Winters lead a vocal jazz workshop with the Darien HS Tudor Singers following the concert.

DHS students engaged in a question and answer session with guest performer Maddie Winters and the John Cutrone Jazz Quartet on December 3 on the DHS auditorium stage.

Darien Schools Announce Winter Holiday Concert Schedule

The Music Department of the Darien Public Schools would like to announce their line-up of school Holiday Winter Concerts. For additional information contact the Darien Music Department at: 203-655-3981 ext: 2250 or visit the Music Department website at: http://blogs.darienps.org/music/

December 5                          Middlesex Bands Winter  Concert at DHS              7:00 P.M.

December 9                          Middlesex Orchestras Winter Concert at DHS        7:00 P.M.

December 10                        Tokeneke Holiday Concert                                       9:00 A.M.

December 11                        Middlesex Chorus Winter Concerts at DHS       6:30 & 8:00 P.M.

                                         (Grade 6, 7 and Vivia Voce 6:30/Grade 8 & Camerata 8:00 P.M.)                                                                

December 11                         Hindley Holiday Concert                                          9:30 A.M.

December 12                         Holmes Holiday Concert                                          9:30 A.M.

December 13                         Ox Ridge Holiday Concert                                       9:45 A.M.

December 17                         Royle Holiday Concert                                             9:15 A.M.

December 18                         DHS Holiday Spectrum Concert (Band, Orchestra  7:00 P.M.

                                              Jazz Ens., Pops Strings, Concert Choir, Perc. Ens.,

                                              Tudor Singers)  Spectrum Snow Date: 12/19              

Darien HS Band Annual Turkey Drive Nov. 26th!!

MMS Strings Host Fiddle Champion Georgia Rae

Georgia Rae, 7 time Fiddle Contest Champion, visited Middlesex Middle School on November 21-22 to work with our string students. Georgia Rae and MMS Orchestra Director, Austin Scelzo, teach a new  fiddle song to the 6th grade Orchestra students.

MMS Grade 7&8 Orchestra students learn how to improvise on their instrument from Georgia Rae, a professional violinist on tour from Wisconsin, on November 22.

Georgia Rae and the MMS String students performed an afternoon fiddle tune/improvisation session for parents on Friday, January 22, followed by a question and answer session and pizza for all.

DHS Concert Choir Students Participate in Fairfield Festival

On Friday, November 1st, 14 students from the DHS Concert Choir, accompanied by Choral Director Mr. Chris Andrade,  participated in the Encore Choir Festival at Fairfield Warde High School along with choirs from Fairfield-Warde, Westhill, and Stamford High Schools. Each choir performed two selections and received a brief evaluation and workshop from guest clinician Kevin Buno.  The choirs then combined to learn a new choral selection to perform together under Mr. Buno’s direction.

Darien Concert Choir students participating in the Encore Choral Festival in Fairfield on November 1st.

Alexander Markov Performs for DHS Orchestra Students

The Orchestra students as Darien High School enjoyed a visit from internationally recognized concert violinist Alexander Markov on Monday, November 4th. Mr. Markov is a Russian born violinist who is also a graduate of Darien High School and has received a gold medal from the Paganini International Violin Competition. He will be performing a concert at the Norwalk Concert Hall on Friday, November 8th at 7:30 p.m.     www.alexandermarkov.com

Alexander Markov performing Paganini Caprices for DHS orchestra students on Monday, November 4th.

Alexander Markov playing his custom made gold electric violin at Darien HS.

Alexander Markov with Orchestra Director Ms. Jane Minnis and students.

DHS Orchestra students and Mr. Sadlon posing with guest violinist Alexander Markov.

Darien HS Choruses Present 2019 Fall Concert with Guest 8th Grade Chorus

The Darien High School Concert Choir performing "I See Colors" accompanied by Preston Yao on piano, and Ella Bates and John Raskopf on percussion. 

The Darien HS Tudor Singers in concert under the direction of Christopher Andrade on October 30th.

The Middlesex Middle School Chorus, under the direction of Kimberly Sadler and Thomas O'Donnell, performing "Shallow" from "A Star Is Born." 

The combined Darien HS Concert Choir, Tudor Singers and MMS Grade 8 Chorus, totaling over 250 students, performing an arrangement of the Duke Ellington and Louis Prima classics, "It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Sing, Sing, Sing Sing."

If you would like to see the entire concert you can view it at:

https://youtu.be/_ai7jOPhAVQ

DHS Orchestras Present "Symphonic Sorcery" Fall Concert

The Darien High School Orchestras were joined by the Middlesex Middle School 8th Grade Orchestra as they opened up their concert on October 28 with the Sorcerer's Apprentice. The selection was conducted by MMS Orchestra Director, Austin Scelzo.

The DHS Concert Orchestra conducted by Jane Minnis "Magic Works" from "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire."

The Darien HS Honors Chamber Orchestra performed "Vanishing Point" and "Of Glorious Plumage" by composer Richard Meyer.

The Darien HS Pops Orchestra performed jazz classics by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Johnny Mercer.

The combined DHS Orchestras and MMS Grade 8 Orchestra performed "The Magic of Harry Potter" as the concert finale on Monday, October 28th.

You can see the entire concert at the following link: 

https://youtu.be/1VK4nfwKc0s

DHS Bands Present 2019 Fall Band Concert

The Darien High School Bands under the direction of Jonathan Grauer presented their Fall Concert on Thursday, October 24 in the Darien High School Auditorium. The concert featured guest soloists David DeJesus on saxophone and drummer Chris Smith, as well as an appearance by Superintendent  Dr. Alan Addley. Below are pictures from the concert.

Guest soloist David DeJesus performs on the selection "Swing" with the combined Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble and Concert Band students.

The Wind Ensemble performing "Ghost train" by Eric Whitacre.

Dr. Addley narrated a performance of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" with the Concert Band.

The DHS Percussion Ensemble in their world premiere performance on October 24th.

DHS Jazz Ensemble Senior tenor saxophonist Nolan Lovegrove jams with guest artist David DeJesus and guest drummer Chris Smith. 

The DHS Jazz Combo performing Sonny Rollins tune "Doxy."