By Melanie Petrucci, Senior Community Reporter
Shrewsbury – The Arts on the Green Concert Series in Shrewsbury hosted “Intimate Dialogues for Brass, Voice and Piano” Feb. 10 at the First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury. Many of the performers were from the area.
“This dynamic series not only provides uplifting entertainment and inspiration, it also works to engage people of all ages and backgrounds, exposing audiences not only to well-established cultural traditions but also to more contemporary forms of expression,” stated FCC Music Director Curtis Smith.
The concert, which was funded in part by a grant from the Shrewsbury Cultural Council, included diverse selections such as George Frederic Handel’s “Eternal Source of Light Divine” from his “Birthday Ode to Queen Anne,” the traditional American folk tune “Shenandoah,” “Someone to Watch Over Me” by George and Ira Gershwin, and a few familiar romantic tunes in honor of Valentine’s Day.
Featured on brass were Rachel Long and Benjamin Marcotte. Rachel, who performed on trumpet, is a former FCC music intern and is a senior at Rhode Island College where she met Benjamin who plays trombone. Both are studying music –Rachel is majoring in trumpet performance and Benjamin’s major is music education.
Shrewsbury High School graduate Johanna Geremia provided the vocals. She is currently studying at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst and has a broad resume of accomplishments as a soloist as well as in a choral ensemble.
On piano were current FCC music intern, Isabelle Zhao, a seventh-grader at Oak Middle School, who also performed on organ; and pianist Philip Martorella, a graduate of the Julliard School of Music and a current adjunct faculty member at Rhode Island College. He performed a few of his own compositions in addition to serving as an accompanist.
Arts on the Green Publicity Coordinator Ann Cairns noted that the next concert will take place Saturday, May 4, at 7:30 p.m., and will showcase former FCC Music Director and pianist Malcolm Halliday and clarinetist Chester Brezniak.
Photos/Melanie Petrucci
