LINWOOD — “This is — normally I would say four months in the making, but this is a year and a half, almost two years in the making,” instrumental music teacher Derek Rohaly said of the Mainland Regional High School Winter Band Concert.
Set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, the concert will feature 33 musicians from all three sending districts coming together for the first time since winter 2019-20.
Rohaly said the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to group performances, taking a significant toll on the concept of “band.”
“It’s tough doing any kind of online learning,” Rohaly said. “It’s even crazier trying to do it with music because it is not conducive … you need real-time playing.”
Even now the instrumental and vocal groups are avoiding mingling too much.
“Traditionally we would do a music department concert but due to COVID we are spreading it out over two concerts,” Rohaly said, noting the Winter Choir Concert was held Dec. 8 under the direction of Amy Melson. “This is our first one, since COVID hit, of any type of official public performance.”
Melson said both the Concert Choir and Show Choir did really well during their performance.
“It was great to see the groups on stage together for a wonderful and supportive audience. Some of the students were definitely nervous but everyone was so excited to be together for a Winter Concert once again,” Melson said.
The vocal music teacher said the COVID-19 pandemic has set several classes of students back in their development.
“The numbers are lower as many students who are now in high school missed out on their seventh and eighth grade year,” she said. “Growing students’ confidence in choir, as it wasn’t an outlet for many, will be the main point for the next few years. But I hope the excitement of being back together will jumpstart that need for growth.”
The instrumental concert will feature musicians from Rohaly’s three music classes coming together as a symphony. Concert Band is made up mostly of my freshmen, while the Symphonic Band consists mostly of sophomores and juniors and the Wind Ensemble that is juniors and seniors.
Both he and the students are happy to get back to playing.
“Now that we are in school, I can feel the energy back up with kids being excited for playing with their friends,” Rohaly said. “That’s why they signed up for band, it’s a communal activity not just sit in front of a computer and play. The chance to get back on the stage is really exciting for them and myself.”
Performers areSophia Lin, Atlantic City; Jay Georges, Northfield; Charlotte Walcoff, Linwood; Madeline Rowe, Northfield; Hannah Cipkins, Somers Point; Gillian Lovett, Somers Point; Lyndsey Christian, Northfield; Madison Conroy, Linwood; Isabella D’Agostino, Linwood; Elizabeth Ong, Linwood; Claire Wurzer, Linwood; Michael Perlman, Northfield; Andy Alexis, Somers Point; Jack Walcoff, Linwood; Alston Wang, Linwood; Tommy McCabe, Linwood; Katie Leonard, Northfield; Luke Fabietti, Linwood; Nova Bansal, Linwood; Camryn Dirkes, Linwood; Dina Spector, Northfield; Sam Leopardi, Northfield; Edwin Duversaint, Somers Point; Arjun Appel, Linwood; Olivia D’Alessandro, Linwood; Peter Fabietti, Linwood; Ethan Mitnick, Linwood; Scott Roscoe, Linwood; Mason Bushay, Northfield; Miles Moore, Northfield; Phil Stafanowicz, Northfield; Andrew Sarraiocco, Northfield; Saanvi Mehta, Linwood.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff