Written by Josh Ehrlich, High School Music Director
Dear Alumni:
This has been a difficult year for the performing arts. But fortunately, the difficulties have only strengthened the resolve of our students and faculty to keep the arts alive at The Leffell School.
In the years leading up to the pandemic, our performing arts program began to flourish, growing to an unprecedented size. At Leffestival in December 2018, the Leffell High School choir shared the stage with legendary cantor Jack Mendelson to perform an original composition by Marc Szechter (Class of 2018). Then, in May 2019, the choir represented our school with a 20-person ensemble at Kolot HaYam, a festival and competition for Jewish high school choirs; Emily Ferry (Class of 2020) and Alison Kessler (Class of 2021) both received the “outstanding soloist” award for their epic rendition of Queen’s “Somebody to Love.” Finally, in January 2020, Emily and Alison starred in our high school’s musical theater production of Cinderella, which featured a stellar cast including Ariel Creditor and Kyle Mayblum (both Class of 2020), Kobi Holmgren and Rachel Parsley (both Class of 2021) and Elijah Wiseman and Spencer Dittelman (both Class of 2022). What’s more, the students were accompanied by a 10-piece pit orchestra comprised of hired professionals and multiple Leffell faculty and students, including Sarah Grand and Eitan Zemel (both Class of 2021) and Daniel Patchen (Class of 2023).
In the years leading up to the pandemic, our performing arts program began to flourish, growing to an unprecedented size. At Leffestival in December 2018, the Leffell High School choir shared the stage with legendary cantor Jack Mendelson to perform an original composition by Marc Szechter (Class of 2018). Then, in May 2019, the choir represented our school with a 20-person ensemble at Kolot HaYam, a festival and competition for Jewish high school choirs; Emily Ferry (Class of 2020) and Alison Kessler (Class of 2021) both received the “outstanding soloist” award for their epic rendition of Queen’s “Somebody to Love.” Finally, in January 2020, Emily and Alison starred in our high school’s musical theater production of Cinderella, which featured a stellar cast including Ariel Creditor and Kyle Mayblum (both Class of 2020), Kobi Holmgren and Rachel Parsley (both Class of 2021) and Elijah Wiseman and Spencer Dittelman (both Class of 2022). What’s more, the students were accompanied by a 10-piece pit orchestra comprised of hired professionals and multiple Leffell faculty and students, including Sarah Grand and Eitan Zemel (both Class of 2021) and Daniel Patchen (Class of 2023).
As exciting as all of those performances were, what has inspired me the most over the past few years is seeing the student-directed shows and arts initiatives that are now a major part of school culture. Sarah and Eitan so enjoyed playing in the pit that they founded a string ensemble which meets every week. Last winter, they played an entire Beethoven string quartet and just a few days ago at Senior Night, they played Sarah’s own arrangement of a medley from Fiddler on the Roof (see photo #2 to the right). Speaking of which, we’ve now had at least one student-run cabaret night each of the last three years. Students oversee every part of these productions: booking space, organizing and communicating with cast members, setting up a schedule for rehearsals, directing and choreographing; at times even writing the script. We’ve had Disney Night (see photo #3), a Mamma Mia-themed Musical Review, and Shakespeare’s Couplet, an original straight play by Emily Ferry (Class of 2020) that premiered last June over Zoom. These productions are a dream come true for a teacher—instead of grading papers or managing a classroom, I get to accompany and collaborate with talented and highly motivated performers. And sometimes those performers are teachers too! Leffell School faculty members Jennifer Lividini, Rabbi Josh Cahan, and Eric Bassin have all graced the stage of the Black Box Theater.
Off the stage too, our students and faculty have dedicated countless hours to the behind-the-scenes technical work of building sets, running sound, designing projections, and lighting and stage managing. During the summer of 2018, Leffell's maintenance staff built a sound booth for the Black Box, complete with state-of-the-art sound boards and a sliding glass window through which to communicate. Eli Weiss (Class of 2021) has become our student sound guru, masterfully running the board for our theater productions and now helping teachers manage their microphone set-ups for remote teaching. Parent volunteer Jerry Goldman has been mentoring a cadre of students who do theater tech; he also helped our school secure a large donation of instruments. And most of all, my colleagues Ariana Tullai (Upper School Performing Arts Coordinator) and Marci Schein (former High School Theater Director) have worked with every instrumentalist and actor in their programs, both challenging them and helping them perform with commitment and confidence.
Last March, things changed. As classes became remote, we were unable to have rehearsals for band, choir, or musical theater productions. The choir created a virtual video of “Matanot K’tanot” for the 2020 graduation (see photo #4) and another video of “This Little Light of Mine” for last winter’s virtual Leffestival. Still, we have so missed the experience of singing together. The High School Band has also been diminished by the prohibition on wind and brass instruments. In September, our former ensemble of a trombone, two saxophones, two clarinets, a violin, drums, and keyboard became a group of four students primarily practicing guitar. Two of them were playing the instrument for the first time, as was their teacher. And instead of rehearsing in the band room with the spacious instrument closet, a music staff-lined whiteboard, a drum kit, and a baby grand piano, we now meet down the hall as guests in the Incubator room (see photo #5).
Still, we taught this past year and students learned. In the Middle School, Ms. Tullai adapted her program by purchasing bell kits for all of her students. These pitched percussion instruments have allowed the students to safely and collectively make music while developing their musical literacy and command of rhythm. Her seventh-grade ensemble put together a charming virtual video of “Lean on Me” for Leffestival, a project that the students themselves suggested. After Passover, we were able to “strike up the band” once again as students were permitted to play brass and wind instruments in distanced groups outside. Meanwhile, the Middle School did its first “Zoom-sical,” a production of The Little Mermaid, Junior, under the caring direction of Hebrew teacher Maayan Loewenberg. Though rehearsals where only one student could sing at a time presented some obstacles, the opportunity for each student to go individually into our recording studio to work with a professional audio engineer was invaluable. While the communal art-making experience is compromised for the moment, we’re using the time to focus more deeply on personal skill-building.
In the High School, our theater students got personal by performing The Monologue Show from Hell under the direction of drama teacher Zach Ferentz (see photo #6). Our Instrumental Ensemble has continued to play as well. Auriel Wish (Class of 2021) joined the band for the first time as a senior, recently having discovered his passion for playing guitar and singing. Not only did he beautifully perform “You Will Be Found” at Senior Night, but he’s also become something of an expert on seventh chords. Jeremy Weissman (Class of 2021) learned to play both guitar and bass, rounding out his skills on saxophone and cajon. As we have just two remaining non-seniors in the band, Daniel Patchen (Class of 2023) and Adam Danberg (Class of 2024), I’m able to offer each of them individual lessons by splitting the class time. This affords both students a unique opportunity to work on their musicianship at a level targeted specifically for them. Both have begun playing new instruments and have become more dedicated and literate musicians; both now regularly practice improvisation.
Improvising, after all, is a big part of teaching and learning. And right now, in an uncertain world which requires unfathomable flexibility, it is especially essential. One Friday in January, I walked into our new band space before class to sit down and plan the day’s lesson. I heard a sound: a rhythmically repeating motif of bouncing octaves. I looked to my right and saw one of the 3D printers, churning away an elaborate design from spools of colored plastic. I couldn’t drown out the sound and concentrate on the melodies I’d initially planned to use for the daily dictation so I transcribed what I heard, calling it “Theme From the 3D Printer.” It became the subject of that day’s lesson, helping demonstrate the concept of relative major and minor while being a fun tune over which to jam (see photo #7).
We may not be in our own room or have access to most of our instruments, but we’re still making music. Sometimes all we have to do is listen; the music is already happening all around us.
Off the stage too, our students and faculty have dedicated countless hours to the behind-the-scenes technical work of building sets, running sound, designing projections, and lighting and stage managing. During the summer of 2018, Leffell's maintenance staff built a sound booth for the Black Box, complete with state-of-the-art sound boards and a sliding glass window through which to communicate. Eli Weiss (Class of 2021) has become our student sound guru, masterfully running the board for our theater productions and now helping teachers manage their microphone set-ups for remote teaching. Parent volunteer Jerry Goldman has been mentoring a cadre of students who do theater tech; he also helped our school secure a large donation of instruments. And most of all, my colleagues Ariana Tullai (Upper School Performing Arts Coordinator) and Marci Schein (former High School Theater Director) have worked with every instrumentalist and actor in their programs, both challenging them and helping them perform with commitment and confidence.
Last March, things changed. As classes became remote, we were unable to have rehearsals for band, choir, or musical theater productions. The choir created a virtual video of “Matanot K’tanot” for the 2020 graduation (see photo #4) and another video of “This Little Light of Mine” for last winter’s virtual Leffestival. Still, we have so missed the experience of singing together. The High School Band has also been diminished by the prohibition on wind and brass instruments. In September, our former ensemble of a trombone, two saxophones, two clarinets, a violin, drums, and keyboard became a group of four students primarily practicing guitar. Two of them were playing the instrument for the first time, as was their teacher. And instead of rehearsing in the band room with the spacious instrument closet, a music staff-lined whiteboard, a drum kit, and a baby grand piano, we now meet down the hall as guests in the Incubator room (see photo #5).
Still, we taught this past year and students learned. In the Middle School, Ms. Tullai adapted her program by purchasing bell kits for all of her students. These pitched percussion instruments have allowed the students to safely and collectively make music while developing their musical literacy and command of rhythm. Her seventh-grade ensemble put together a charming virtual video of “Lean on Me” for Leffestival, a project that the students themselves suggested. After Passover, we were able to “strike up the band” once again as students were permitted to play brass and wind instruments in distanced groups outside. Meanwhile, the Middle School did its first “Zoom-sical,” a production of The Little Mermaid, Junior, under the caring direction of Hebrew teacher Maayan Loewenberg. Though rehearsals where only one student could sing at a time presented some obstacles, the opportunity for each student to go individually into our recording studio to work with a professional audio engineer was invaluable. While the communal art-making experience is compromised for the moment, we’re using the time to focus more deeply on personal skill-building.
In the High School, our theater students got personal by performing The Monologue Show from Hell under the direction of drama teacher Zach Ferentz (see photo #6). Our Instrumental Ensemble has continued to play as well. Auriel Wish (Class of 2021) joined the band for the first time as a senior, recently having discovered his passion for playing guitar and singing. Not only did he beautifully perform “You Will Be Found” at Senior Night, but he’s also become something of an expert on seventh chords. Jeremy Weissman (Class of 2021) learned to play both guitar and bass, rounding out his skills on saxophone and cajon. As we have just two remaining non-seniors in the band, Daniel Patchen (Class of 2023) and Adam Danberg (Class of 2024), I’m able to offer each of them individual lessons by splitting the class time. This affords both students a unique opportunity to work on their musicianship at a level targeted specifically for them. Both have begun playing new instruments and have become more dedicated and literate musicians; both now regularly practice improvisation.
Improvising, after all, is a big part of teaching and learning. And right now, in an uncertain world which requires unfathomable flexibility, it is especially essential. One Friday in January, I walked into our new band space before class to sit down and plan the day’s lesson. I heard a sound: a rhythmically repeating motif of bouncing octaves. I looked to my right and saw one of the 3D printers, churning away an elaborate design from spools of colored plastic. I couldn’t drown out the sound and concentrate on the melodies I’d initially planned to use for the daily dictation so I transcribed what I heard, calling it “Theme From the 3D Printer.” It became the subject of that day’s lesson, helping demonstrate the concept of relative major and minor while being a fun tune over which to jam (see photo #7).
We may not be in our own room or have access to most of our instruments, but we’re still making music. Sometimes all we have to do is listen; the music is already happening all around us.
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