The Smithtown High School West Chapter of Tri-M hosted their annual Rhapsody in Smithtown Blue pops concert. Named after George Gershwin’s iconic Rhapsody in Blue, the concert is meant to be a way for students to play ‘pop’ songs on instruments that would traditionally be in an orchestral setting.
The concert has grown to include all varieties of song and instruments, with audience members being serenaded with everything from Here Comes the Sun, Enter Sandman played by the Chamber Orchestra and Hungarian Rhapsody No 6.
Rhapsody in Smithtown Blue is entirely run by students and has been for ten years. It was started by Emily Doveala and the Tri-M Music Honor Society. After Hurricane Sandy ravaged New Orleans, Emily Doveala approached the honor society to see what they could do.
Ever since then, the pops concert has been held every year and has raised money for a number of generally music-related charities. “The whole idea of this concert was to have orchestral instruments play songs you are not used to hearing them play,” said faculty advisor Joseph Cotignola.
Cotignola also noted that “The thing I love about this is that it is 100% student-run.” This includes the lighting, stage crew and ticket sellers.
The proceeds from the concert were donated to two charities: The Greg W. Sill Foundation and ISO at Third Street.
The Greg W. Sill foundation is named in honor of the late High School West social studies teacher who inspired generations of students. Mr. Sill would always encourage students to be the coffee bean because coffee beans respond to heat and pressure by becoming better than what they were.
“The Greg W. Sill Foundation celebrates and supports passionate students who spark positivity and lead lives of goodwill towards others,” reads the Rhapsody Pamphlet. “[They help] Students positively impact the world around them, just as Greg Sill did.” Their three pillars are positivity, adventure, and empathy.
The other charity, ISO at Third Street, brings together young instrumentalists from across New York City. It follows in a long line of music-related charities that Rhapsody has supported.
Tri-M Vice President Sydney Savickis and President Elianna Andrews emceed the event in its entirety, with several other students taking the reins at times.
“This is our largest concert yet,” said Cotignola as he looked out into a full audience.
The performance featured the Chamber Orchestra, Samantha Crush, Marielle Krockta, Erica Pentecoste & Heather Sanger, the Thunderers (Jonathan Andrews, Matthew Lasher, Chris Schulz, and Nicholas Boardman), Rebecca Gatto, Kayla Pisano, David Rubin, Stephanie Nigro, Annabella Hernandez, A Lil’ Symphony under the direction of Stephanie Nigro, the Jazz Ensemble, Grace Vibal, Natalie Marshall, Benjamin Hausman, The Legends (Sydney Savickis, David Rubin, Elianna Andrews, Mackenzie Cooper, and Nicholas Boardman), Dara Schnur & Abigail Staudt, Erika Hinson & Leah Kelly, Samantha Crush & Stephen Jung, and Söundbyte (Erika Hinson, Chris Catanese, Nick Singer, and Nick Vowinkel).
The Chamber Orchestra was under the direction of Joseph Cotignola. The Jazz Ensemble was under the esteemed direction of the one and only Tim Cassera.
