On Tuesday, May 15, the Nazareth Band, under the direction of Mr. Andy Boland, rocked the auditorium with an assortment of songs from Hairspray, Chicago the Musical, and Aladdin. The concert started nicely with beautiful music and senior acknowledgements, as well as awards given out to the most improved and most important player from each grade. Recipients were happy that they received Starbucks gift cards as part of their awards.
Sophomore Alek Sienkowski, winner of the most important sophomore award stated, “I’m glad I won the award, but there were others who worked hard, and they should be congratulated too. We all work together, and it shows. If you work hard, get back up after a fall, and don’t let people push you down, you’re working at your fullest potential.”
Alek, who plays Clarinet, is very proud of how well the band does in competitions and concerts. The band works hard together and works to make sure that no one falls down alone. When one person does not play his or her best, everyone else works hard to make up for it and bring the band back to its former glory.
On Thursday May 17, at their annual Spring Pops concert, the choir preformed selections from the musical Godspell, with various solos placed throughout. The seniors were nicely highlighted with their many songs and solos placed within the chorus songs. Progressions Vocal Jazz Ensemble sang separate, more difficult songs, emphasizing their regular rehearsals after school. The introduction Ms. Carnavale gave to the women’s solo song, “Turn Back, Oh Man,” left the choir laughing.
Like the band, the choir also received awards for the best and most improved student from each class. The award for the most improved sophomore demonstrated the unity and combination between the Sports at Nazareth and the fine arts. Joey Nelson, the line backer and wide receiver of the sophomore football team and tenor in the choir received the award for the most improved sophomore, proving to the school once again that there is no division between the fine arts and sport teams at Nazareth Academy.
The choir concert had an emotional end as Ms. Nikki Carnevale officially announced to the audience that this would be her last year at Nazareth, and consequently her last choir concert. She and her long time friend, also the pianist for the choir concerts, preformed “For Good” from the musical Wicked as a tribute to how much the choir as a whole has changed her. Their performance not only left the choir in tears during the last song, but it also left the audience wishing Ms. Carnevale was not leaving.
No matter how much the choir wishes she would not leave, it is time for her to move on to pursue other dreams and see where they take her. Congratulations to Ms. Carnevale for discovering where the future will take her. Nazareth Academy will truly miss her, and wishes her the very best.
