Issue II - East Meadow School District

Continued from front pageeverything that could possibly go wrong inthat scene did. Except for the songs. Thesongs were good.E- Yeah, the songs were good.JG- What about the best scene?M- 1.4E- 1.4 is the best for Max—M- It’s the classroom scene.E- I love 1.4, but even more is 1.5, whichis the Shall I Tell You What I Think of Yousong, where I get to have a complete tempertantrum on stage.M- You completely tear my characterapart.E- Yeah.JG- Was there any rage at Max hiddenin that?E- *laughs* No, never Max.M- Not even for that one time I missed rehearsal?When we were going to choreographShall We Dance?…M- When people call my name, I alwaysrespond with, “Yo.” And I noticed that nowI say, “Yo, yo, yo.” (quickly)E- *laughs*I definitely started sayingthings in three’s also, as a result of thisproduction. I’ll be like, “Yeah, yeah, yeah,I’m coming.”M- What, what, what? And I’ve been saying“et cetera” a lot.E- So have I! I have one teacher who uses“et cetera” a lot, and I’m always thinking,“Oh, God! The show!” Also, there’sa girl in my math class named Anna, andI’ve started responding to her name… I’veplayed an Anna for two years now…JG- What was the most challengingscene?E- It’s the final scene, the death scene. ActuallyI wasn’t able to cry until maybe oneof the last Hell Week rehearsals, when wewere running that scene and I finally mademyself cry.JG- What did you think about to getyourself to cry?M- Me being shirtless, all the time.E- *laughs* Yes, Max being shirtless.That’s what I thought of. And then I cried.No. Basically, to start crying, I had to thinkof something personal, and then once I wasalready crying, then I could just go backto being in-character and remember that Ido have feelings for the king, and that he’sdying and that’s why I’m crying—M- Dead king.E- Yes, dead king, that’s what made mecry. … But to start crying—this is kind ofembarrassing—I would psyche myself outNEWS3and make myself think that I ruined theshow. I would make myself think that everythingwent wrong, because that’s somethingthat would make me the most sad inthat moment, imagining that the show wasruined because I messed up so many times.Even though I didn’t, I would make myselfbelieve that I did a horrible job, and then Icried on stage.M- I got to chill in the back.E- Yeah, you just got to lay there and die.M- I got to relax the entire scene.JG- If you could tell the character youplayed one thing, what would it be?M- …I love you.E- I don’t know, she’s so strong, and I wishI was that strong. She’s such a wonderfulperson, and…it was an honor to play her,I’ll say that.EMHS Jazz Ensemble Goes To Rochester!by Anson WangEvery year, a lucky and talentedselect number of Junior and Senior studentsare accepted into the annual New York All-State Music Festival, an event honoring thevery best band, orchestra, jazz, and chorusmembers around. To get into this covetedand prestigious event, one must go througha rigorous audition process, followed bymonths of preparation, not to mention yearsof experience. However, this year marked atruly momentous event. For the first time infive years, the East Meadow High SchoolJazz Ensemble was one of only eight musicalgroups selected throughout the entirestate to perform at this year’s NYSSMAWinter Conference, held along side theAll-State festival.Only lastyear, the band conductorMr. Englesubmitted a recordingof one of theband’s concerts toa panel of experts.This year, their hardwork paid off. However,this could onlymean high stressand anxiety, alongwith a rush to preparefor the upcomingperformance.Just weeks after thebeginning of theschool year, auditionswere held andPhoto courtesy of East Meadow High School Music Department.rehearsals began.The band carefullyselected a programof four songs including“The NutcrackerSuite,” “Afro Blue,”“Jamie,” and “StrikeUp The Band.”As rehearsals progressed,they evenbegan to multiply.With All-State approaching,rehearsalswere held in themornings and evenon several evenings.After all, “Practicemakes permanent,”as the Music Departmentsays. After afinal rehearsal anda final pep talk, theband was sent hometo pack and to rest,anticipating the nextFriday when theywould depart to Rochester (Yes, that samefateful Friday where the brave squirrelchewed through the power line).Early the next morning, the band,along with chaperone Mr. Marshall, the 8thgrade band director from Woodland, assembledat JFK International Airport Terminal5 ready to board the Jet Blue flightto Rochester. Bags, suits and instrumentsin hand, they arrived at the airport an hourearly and spent the remaining time runningaround the airport terminal. At about9:00, the band boarded the small Jet Blueplane bound for upstate New York. After arather short flight and a service of drinksand blue chips, the plane touched down insnow-blanketed Rochester. The band wastransferred via shuttle to the Hyatt RegencyHotel located in the downtown area.It was only about noon, but theday was packed with activities. After stowingtheir instruments and bag into a closet,the band first set out to have lunch at a localgrill, and then to view the rehearsals of theAll-State symphonic groups. Where theyventured to next was one of the highlightsof the day. Held in the main building was anexhibition hall, where various stands wereset up with different activities to try as wellas items to purchase. One could even trythe shiny, sparkling new instruments thatwere on display, provided that the playerbrought his or her own mouthpiece. Freesamples, and even free boxes of reeds,were provided in this hall. However, someof the stands were already closed (The urgeto swipe an unattended fancy box of reedsoff the table was very tempting).Finally, it was time to get seriousand prepare for the concert in the evening.The band was to perform in the biggestroom in the hotel, the Lilac Ballroom,where they held their sound-check. Soon,our hotel rooms were finally ready, andThe Jazz Ensemble and its members:Director: Stephen EngleSaxophones: Justin Herman, Daniel Gross, Chris Garzia, Charlie Gionvenniello, Harry ZuckerTrombones: Jordan Fried, Jonathan Tilles, Julian Paykert, Alex GrossTrumpets: Andrew Hocher, Max Hoffman, Nicholas Maltese,Sam Pollenz, Louis PollenzDrums: Stephan StanzioneBass: Jacob UmanskyGuitar: Jason ToledanoPiano: Anson Wangwith three to a room, members stepped intotheir own suites to unload and to unwind.After dinner in the hotel café, it was timeto prepare for the main event. Showers, achange of clothes, and a few pillow brawlslater, the band met in the lobby of the hotel.The time was about 9:00 p.m. before theband traveled together to the Lilac Ballroom.The EMHS Jazz Ensemble wasset to perform second that night. After alast warm-up and practice session, monthsof preparation and hard work were aboutto be tested. The Jazz Ensemble took theirplace on stage before an audience of abouttwice the number of a full auditorium in ourown High School. The excitement, energy,and anticipation were high, and the adrenalinecould be felt throughout the room.Tune after tune, the band played throughthe program with confidence and with theirhighest musicality, and contained almostno audible mistakes.It was truly a magicalnight, one that washighly praised and onethat would go downin history. After playingthrough each song,the ensemble exitedthe stage and headedbackstage, where expressionsof congratulations,thanks, andpraise were thrownaround. Following anonslaught of picturesand celebrations, it wastime to head back to thehotel rooms. Promisesof “all-nighters” soonbegan to fade fast, asfatigue set in and tookits toll.The next day,the band had breakfastin the hotel before headingupstairs to pack.They were then shippedoff to the Rochester Airportin order to catch a1:00 flight back to JFK.Upon arrival back inthe southern part ofNew York, it was timeto reflect upon the pastday. Wait a second, thepast day? What reallywas a twenty-four hourtrip upstate seemedlike a weeklong journey.However, it was atrip full of memories tocarry on. It was a truehonor to play at the All-State convention thisyear, and as Mr. Englesaid, carrying the standardof excellence that our school is sowell known for providing. This trip willdefinitely remain as a highlight of our HighSchool lives for a long time. After claimingour baggage and meeting with parents, itwas time to return home.Ja n u a r y 2011