On Display at the SHS Art Gallery
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Dr. Nadine Gordon, an art teacher at Scarsdale High School invited us into the high school art gallery to view some of the beautiful work on display this month. First up are three large wall hangings, created of precut wood and painted with patterns and complementary colors. These stunning works are the result of collaboration between students in the Special Education class and a student club called Spectrum of Friends who worked with the special ed students to create these impressive works.
Gordon explained that the project was inspired by the art of Bruce Gray. The results are so good that they will be hung around the school on permanent display for everyone to view.
While visiting the gallery we also ran into student Jon Hendler who was proud to show us this 
motorcycle that he welded out of parts he found in the auto shop at SHS. This cool chopper can be seen in a display cabinet in a second floor hallway at SHS.
Stop by the high school this month to view the murals, the cycle and some colorful portraits and sculptures from Dr Gordon’s and Ms. DeAngelis’ classes.
Oklahoma Coming to Edgemont High School
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Following last year's popular spring musical, Grease, Edgemont High School will present Oklahoma in March. The spring musical will again be directed by EHS music teacher Kelley Morse and the pit will be conducted by EHS music teacher John Catoliato. The show will be produced by Greenville School music teacher Rick Cantatore. The kids have been rehearsing since early January and over 75 students from grades 9 thru 12 are involved in the cast, pit and crew. .
The award winning show, Oklahoma, was first performed in 1943 and ran for over 2,200 performances. Composer Richard Rodgers had wanted to adapt a rural folk drama of the 1930s -- "Green Grow the Lilacs" by Lynn Riggs -- to the musical stage and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, accepted Rodgers' suggestion to work together. Set in the Oklahoma territory at the turn of the twentieth century, the play tells the tale of two young cowboys who vie with an evil ranch hand and a traveling peddler for the hearts of the women they love. Laurey is a headstrong farm girl who doesn't want to fall willingly into the arms of the handsome cowboy, Curly. In her attempts to avoid him, she ends up turning to the dark-hearted farm hand, Jud Fry, who wants to do more than take her to the dance.
The main roles of Curly and Laurey will be played by seniors Ethan Kempner and Sunny Kutcher. The show features well-known songs such as "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin," "I Can't Say No," and "People Will Say We Are in Love." There will be four performances: Thursday, March 22nd at 7 pm, Friday, March 23rd at 8 pm, Saturday, March 24th at 8 pm and Sunday, March 25th at 2;30 pm. Last year's Grease sold out three of their four performances so order early to guarantee your seat. For tickets to all performances, send an email to [email protected]. All tickets are assigned seating and are $15 each.
The Edgemont Teachers Association (ETA) invites Edgemont senior citizens to reconnect with the schools for an evening of musical theater. Seniors are welcome as guests of the ETA at the Edgemont High School musical production of Oklahoma on Thursday, March 22th at 7 p.m. This opening night performance is a benefit for the Edgemont Scholarship Council (ESC). The ETA is pleased to support the ESC and offer complimentary tickets. Transportation can also be provided. Please contact Ellen Greenstein at 472-2037 for information.
Bring Your Valentine to the Party of the Year
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The Scarsdale Forum will host its fourth annual membership party on Saturday, February 11th at the Scarsdale Woman’s Club, 37 Drake Road from 7 to 11 p.m. Members will join their neighbors for an evening of lively conversation and delicious foods from local vendors as well as the home-brewed beers of resident brewmeister, Bruce Wells. Jazz trio Cascade will set the Valentine mood and an intimate boutique in the library will offer many interesting items to purchase from the Scarsdale Women’s Exchange, Vintage Via Carrie, Imagine Candy and Wendy Lynn Designs. A percentage of boutique sales will be donated to the Forum. An artist will capture guests in caricature for a small fee. Raffle prizes of donated goods and services will be awarded throughout the evening. Dessert will be served in the small dining room featuring the home baked goods of member bakers and village bakeries.
All members and their guests will receive a benefit journal that will include the history of the Forum written by our Village Historian and Forum member, Eric Rothschild. Commercial ads and personal messages to loved ones and to friends you admire can be purchased through the Journal Committee. Profits from the event will be used for the digitization of the Forum’s historical records and to support the public programs offered by the Forum throughout the year.
The Scarsdale Forum is a 107 year old civic organization dedicated to improving life in Scarsdale. The Forum studies many issues affecting the Village and frequently provides input to governing bodies and elected officials on the local, county and state level via reports and statements prepared by its committees. Scarsdale residents are encouraged to join the Forum and participate in the process.
Admission is limited to members and their guests. Advanced reservations are $25 per person or $30 at the door. Due to the popularity of this event, advance reservations are encouraged. Please RSVP by February 3rd.
Advanced reservations, membership renewal and joining the Forum for the first time can be done online at: www.scarsdaleforum.com or by mailing a check to Scarsdale Forum Inc., 24 East Parkway, P.O. Box 86, Scarsdale, NY 10583. To purchase an ad and/or for additional information regarding the event, please contact: B. Kathleen Munguia at 914-723-2839 or [email protected].
Marcus is Walking at SHS
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A student-directed production of the show Marcus is Walking will be performed next weekend at Scarsdale High School. The play, written by Joan Ackermann features eleven vignettes set within or around a car. Set in the present day, the characters drive through a vast emotional landscape full of love, charm, and vulnerability. The play is mix of comedy and drama. This SHS Drama Club production is directed by two high school seniors, Clint Frehill and Justine Gelfman.
Acting in the play are Alex Altieri, Lorna Begg, Doug Berman, Preston Brehm, Rebecca Buchwald, Sarah Coffey, Chris D’Silva, Gavin Elwes, Autumn Hamra, Sophie Laruelle, Bryant Lo, Sophie Nobler, Michelle Ostroff, Bianca Rogoff, Julia Rutkovsky, Cara Scharf, Will Segal, and Taylor Yu.
Tickets are $10 for general admission and are available through the Drama Club and at the door on the night of the performance. This promises to be a highly entertaining production!
Marcus is Walking
Scarsdale High School Auditorium
Friday January 20 – 7:30 pm
Saturday January 21 – 7:30 pm
A Weekend In Rochester
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By any measure, the 76th Annual Winter Conference 2011 All-State Concert was a great event. Just under 900 musicians, 4 from Scarsdale High School, recognized by The New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) for their proficiency participated in a series of concerts held at the Eastman Theatre in Rochester, New York on December 3rd and 4th. Performances were made (in order) by the: Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Instrumental Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, String Orchestra, Women’s Chorus, Mixed Chorus, Symphonic Band and Symphonic Orchestra. Individual guest conductors were chosen for each of the ensembles.
I was selected to be one of two mallet percussion instrumentalists chosen to represent New York State in the All-State Symphonic Band in this year’s event. My journey to Rochester began 8 years ago with my decision to add the marimba – an instrument comprised of a set of wooden keys set up as those of a piano, struck with a mallet – as a performance instrument that would allow me to do more ensemble work. Having studied piano and music theory from the time that I was 5, the transition to percussion was fairly smooth. Through the help of the band directors at Edgewood School (Patricia Hurley), Scarsdale Middle school (Nick Lieto) and Scarsdale High School (Jason Noble), I gained a level of proficiency that gave me the chance to test and be recognized by the NY State School Music Association (the testing is held once a year – scores are given and then the music directors submit their students as candidates to be considered by NYSSMA).
Preparation for the concert actually began a month ago when I received the music for this year’s program. But the real work began with the 5 ½ hour trip (by car) up on Thursday and the rigorous preparation made with the guest conductor (Dr. David Holsinger of Lee University). Between the time that the 160 members of the All-State Symphonic Band first met and the actual performance on Sunday, 22 hours of practice hours were logged. We had to learn how to meld our talents on five high-level compositions (2 of which were written by Dr. Holisinger) in 3 intense days of practice. Dr. Holsinger joked with the audience that during rehearsals, smoke was literally coming out of some of the instruments. Downtime between practice sessions was spent eating and bonding with the other musicians at the Radisson Hotel. The quarters were tight and as there were only two beds, we had to rotate sleeping on the sofa. I had the good fortune to have two roommates from Rockland and Putnam counties who shared my passion for performance, and my need to let off steam in the “off hours”.
The actual performance lived up to my elevated expectations. The Eastman Theatre is an iconic venue in the heart of Rochester. Built in 1922, the building has seating capacity of 2500. A good percentage of the seats were filled. My family, who drove up from Scarsdale Saturday morning, picked out the perfect location for viewing the percussion section. The band was in fine form and Dr. Holsinger was in good spirits. Needless to say, my favorite piece was a series of fanfares that prominently featured the marimba. The performers were all pleased at the end; you could see it in their faces. The standing ovation from the audience was sustained (and very much welcome).
If there was anything bittersweet about my participation in the All-State concert, it’s that I’ll be hard pressed to have the opportunity to perform at such a high level with a group of musicians of this caliber.
This article was contributed by Scarsdale High School senior and instrumentalist Will Heffner, pictured above with Dr. David Holisnger. In addition to being Band President, Heffner is the VP of the Student Government, VP of the Drama Club, and member of the Varsity Tennis team. Two summers ago, he started a music program for Grace Church Community Center’s summer program for underprivileged children.
