Big Moments at Small Ensemble Concert

The musical and vocal talents of more than 50 students from the Upper and Middle schools brought rounds of applause from audience members at the Small Ensemble Concert held in the Kurtz Center for Performing Arts on January 24.

The Middle School performers made an especially memorable impact when they took the stage to sing in-person for the first time since 2020. Faculty and staff also joined the students for several numbers during the show.

The evening kicked off with the Upper School Brass Ensemble playing "Lazy Day," "Beyond the Clouds," and "Heartland." On trumpet were Juan Tovar, Aidan Gentner, Mr. Tim Clarke, and Mr. Douglas Gorham. On euphonium were Ellie Choate and Chloe Pinto. Bella Denton-Scarano played French horn, Sam Koenig trombone, and Lindsay Gadsden tuba. 

The Oats band of Leo Prichett on drums, Ramsay Killinger on piano, Avi Mondgock on guitar, and Mr. Ray Bailey on bass followed their brass counterparts and entertained attendees with "You Can't Call It That" and "In a Sentimental Mood."

The next four concert sections featured Penn Charter's skilled singers, including the middle schoolers singing "Landside" and "White Winter Hymnal." These vocalists were: Sofia Barone, Evan Brightbill, Sam DeVeiga, Chelsea Gadsden, Bailey Handler, Maddie Jones, Addie Krause, Anna Larrabee, Emalee Morales, Alexandra Murray, Millie Oberfield, Albert Ross and Eloisa Tovar.

Boys a cappella was next for renditions of "Sound of Silence" and "Life Could Be a Dream," while girls a cappella followed with "Pocketful of Sunshine" and "What a Wonderful World." The vocal portion of the concert ended with the Quakers Dozen singing "The Night We Met" and "The Longest Time." 

The students in boys a cappella are: Matt Clarke, Blaine Tartikoff, Elijah Leckerman, Malachi McNeil and Oliver Zulick. The students in girls a cappella are: Isabella Brightbill, Bella Denton-Scarano, Emerson Drake, Renee Fernandes, Theren Haines, Allison Sweeney, Brooklyn Trevisan and Louella Whitaker.

The students in Quakers Dozen are: Matt Clarke, Rocco DelBello, Emerson Drake, Nicole Gilbert, Theren Haines, Audrey Kemner, Elijah Leckerman, Grace Magee, Malachi McNeil, Ella Parke, Sarah Price, Scott Sweeney, Brooklyn Trevisan, Benji Solomon, Louella Whitaker, Helena Zoga and Oliver Zulick. Choral director Tony Yoo explained the addition of five students to the traditional 12 is to help sustain and strengthen the group since seven members are set to graduate this year.

Last but not least, instruments returned to the stage for the Percussion Ensemble finale. Students Jaxon Adams, Alexander Coupas, San Davey, Ramsay Killinger, Ross Lee, Garrett Mathias, Leo Prichett, Harrison Signorello, Scott Sweeney, Vikram Verma and Quinn Williams ended the night in bombastic style with "Follow Suit" and "Earth 'Quake'," a piece written by PC music teacher Bradford Schoener and performed in honor of Penn Charter Head of School Darryl J. Ford, who is retiring from PC in June.  

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