Press release from Rumson School District
The Instrumental Music Program at Forrestdale School in Rumson took center stage for the Winter Concert on January 15, when the Intermediate and Advanced Bands and the Jazz Ensemble under the direction of John Lebitsch entertained a large and appreciative audience in the school gymnasium.
The Winter Concert featured selections that allowed various sections of the bands to shine. A crowd favorite, “Percussion Portrait” by Jerry Nowak, was performed by the Advanced Band and showcased the skills of the percussion section on six different instruments.
The Intermediate and Advanced Bands teamed up to present “Walkin’ Cool”, a jazz piece, in which all students showed the audience how much fun they have by participating in the Music Program — and as soon as the audience heard the opening note to the Jazz Ensemble’s first selection, the mature sound and complex abilities of the student-musicians were evident.
As the Jazz Ensemble closed the show with the Duke Ellington piece “Satin Doll’, the audience asked for an encore, prompting a reprise of the band’s favorite holiday number, “Feliz Navidad.”
