32 The Courier sun • december 1, 2016 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com St. Francis Prep’s Music Department Showcases Talent at Annual Christmas Concerts On Friday, December 9th, and Saturday, December 10th, St. Francis Preparatory School’s Music Department will host their Annual Christmas Concerts, in Prep’s Brother Ralph Clifford Memorial Auditorium. In all, eleven ensembles, and nearly 600 students will perform. Friday the 9th will feature all three orchestras, both percussion ensembles, and our Concert Chorus. A highlight of the evening will be our Chamber Orchestra’s performance of Brian Balmages’ “A Solitary Wish.” According to the composer, I learned an amazing lesson before I began this piece. While I consider myself to be a “good” person, I read a friend’s comment about seeing a homeless woman named Joyce outside of Target. Joyce needed a new pair of shoes because it was getting cold outside and she only had sandals. My friend decided to get her the shoes, but also decided to buy her lunch and some extra food. Simple comments like “How will you heat up canned soup?” “Usually the microwave at 7-Eleven works.” “Why don’t you get the big peanut butter?” “Because it is too heavy to carry around.” And then she remarked how every single person around them averted their eyes as they walked by. It gave her a tremendous amount of perspective and a desire to be much more empathetic in the future. I thought the same thing. Fast-forward just a few hours. I was outside a food store with my kids and there was a man outside asking for some food. I watched quite a few people walk by. Some actually said “sorry” as they walked by, but most of them did not even look at him or acknowledge him when he spoke to them. Finally, with my new “perspective” in hand, I walked up to him and asked him if he was okay. He just needed something to drink and a little bit of food. I took him into the store with me and bought him something. His name is Bruce. He is 32 years old. He has three kids – 2 in elementary school and 1 in middle school. He acknowledged that he’s made plenty of mistakes in life, but that he is trying really hard to get back up on his feet and live in the area so he can be close to his kids. We chatted for a bit, then I had to run and get my youngest to a soccer game. As we were leaving, he held the door open for us and said thanks. “It’s hard when people ignore you all day long. Thanks for stopping.” With the holiday season approaching, this struck me hard. So many of us are already making our “lists.” Others are bugging us for them so they can start their shopping early. We are annoyed because we have to go to several houses on Thanksgiving Day, or open gifts at several houses (or travel) during the holiday season. And then some perspective – someone like Joyce or Bruce – they wish for food, water, and for someone to notice them. There are many holiday pieces out there about everything you can imagine. This one begins with a single individual (a cello soloist) just asking to be noticed while everyone walks by – some dropping a few coins or a dollar but avoiding conversation at all cost. As the music develops, we experience a wide range of emotions as the joy of the holidays is juxtaposed with solitude. Ultimately, in this particular story, the individual is joined by another, and eventually there are four of them together (the quartet). As a couple people begin to leave, one stays behind (a violin soloist) and the person’s wish comes true. Saturday will feature all three bands, and our Prep Chorus and Chamber Choir. A highlight of the evening will be Prep’s third annual “Hallelujah Project,” where students from neighboring school and parish choirs join our Concert Band and Prep Chorus in a performance of Handel’s ever-popular “Hallelujah Chorus.” This year, guest school choirs include Middle School 74, Intermediate School 77, and St. Andrew Avellino Catholic Academy, as well as parish choirs from Immaculate Heart of Mary, and St. Athanasius. Prep’s Chairperson of Music, Robert Corbino is regarded as the driving force and architect of Prep’s Music Department. In his 41st year at the school, he also saw the department become the first school ever to earn the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Music Credential, which “is aimed at recognizing only those schools with the most sophisticated programs and the highest goals in music education.” According to Corbino, “he is looking forward to conducting the Jazz Band and Concert Band, given that the students have, as always, worked so hard, and deserve to have a spectacular performance with a packed house.” Prep’s Co-Director of Choral Studies, David Kobayashi, is a graduate of the school. For Kobayashi, there is a, “profound joy in seeing his students not only succeed at the highest musical level, but have fun making Music with each other.” General Admission tickets are $5, and are available at the school’s Music office in advance, or at the door. St. Francis Prep is located at 6100 Francis Lewis Boulevard in Fresh Meadows. Both concerts begin at 7:45PM, with doors opening at 7:15PM. For more information, please contact: Dr. Robert Corbino, Chairperson of Music, at (718) 423-8810, x255, or [email protected] ST. FRANCIS PREP MOUNTS A C.S. LEWIS CLASSIC, HOSTS A TREE LIGHTING, AND (AS ALWAYS) FINDS PLENTY OF WAYS TO HELP OTHERS! The St. Francis Prep Alvernian Drama Society's production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, by C. S. Lewis, and under the direction of Donna Mejia will be delighting audiences on Friday, December 2nd at 8pm, and Saturday, December 3rd at 7pm in Prep’s Brother Ralph Clifford Memorial Auditorium. This year’s production is different in that students will be designing costumes and make-up from scratch. And in true Prep fashion, here are also parents and grandparents of Prep students helping to build scenery, bringing all involved together as a family, literally and figuratively. Veteran Prep teacher, Donna Mejia is giving her Theater Design and Production class hands-on experience by learning to be assistant directors, designers, and stage hands, etc.. She is very proud that the show will be entirely student run at each performance. At last year’s production of A Christmas Carol, adapted by Charles Ludlam, raffle items and snacks were sold before and during intermission to help offset the cost of members of Prep’s Alvernian Drama Society Dancers, who have been chosen to perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this year. This is the 90th anniversary of the parade, and dancers and performing artists were chosen by audition. High school students from all over the country auditioned to be part of the Spirit of America Dancers, with whom Prep’s students will be performing. Participants will be able to take in a Broadway show, while staying at the New York Hilton. In addition to the performances, Prep will hold its annual Christmas Tree lighting in the school library, on opening night, Friday, December 2nd at 7PM. There will be hot chocolate, cookies, crafts, and even a reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Prep’s Chamber Choir, under the direction of David Kobayashi, will be singing Christmas carols, the library will be decorated for the event, and there will even be a visit by Santa Claus! In addition to all of this, and in keeping with the Franciscan Mission of the school, there will be a Toy Drive for Toys for Tots. Please join us on Friday, December 2nd at 8PM (Christmas Tree Lighting at 7PM – bring a toy!) or Saturday, December 3rd at 7PM in Prep’s Ralph Clifford Auditorium, 6100 Francis Lewis Boulevard in Fresh Meadows, Queens. Tickets are $12 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, and are available at the door. For more information, please contact: Jeanne Buccino, Prep’s Art Department Chairperson at, (718) 423-8810, x218, or [email protected], or Donna Mejia, Director of Prep’s Alvernian Drama Society at, (718) 423-8810, x218, or [email protected], or Maureen O’Neill, Toys for Tots Coordinator at (718) 423-8810, x236, or [email protected]
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