Jazz musicians and vocalists from Wantagh High School and Middle School joined together recently for an evening of music.
The program was kicked off by rousing performances by the Wantagh Middle School Jazz Band under the direction of John Anderson. The numbers included solo pieces by Elena Scarano, Jarod Sullivan, Daniel Hirsch and John Schwally.
The Wantagh High School Vocal Jazz Ensemble, directed by Jennifer Alessi, then took the stage and entertained with a medley of Gershwin tunes followed by solo performances by seniors Nicole Weitzman, Christina Tramantana and Kara Arena. The singers were accompanied by music instructors Edgar Meeks on drums and Peter Saladino on bass. The vocalists were followed by the Wantagh High School Jazz Ensemble who provided a fabulous array of spirited tunes featuring solos on instruments by Sam Hutt, Matthew Saltzman, Zach Rowles, Blake Andreou, Alex DeSalvo, Frank Proscia and a vocal performance by senior Maggie Tigue.
In homage to Mr. Anderson, who announced his retirement this year, Wantagh High School Jazz Ensemble Director Dan Aviles invited him to perform a final number with the band. The performance earned an enthusiastic standing ovation from an appreciative crowd. The Wantagh school community thanks Anderson for helping students make beautiful music for over 30 years and applauded all of the teachers involved in making this evening such a wonderful showcase for the district’s talented musicians.
