Band Improvises During COVID-19

Playing six feet apart, the Upper School Ensemble soldiered on with rehearsals during the COVID-19 pandemic this year.

Without woodwind and brass instruments in the Band, the group of nine underclassmen put their heads together to pull off three concerts in an extraordinary year. Flutists and trumpeters became pianists, guitarists doubled as drummers, and the students collaborated to do what they enjoy best: making music.

The Band faced difficulties due to health and safety restrictions, which forced the group to alter its rehearsal process and performance formats. After months of remote learning where the Band pre-recorded concerts to share its work, the return to campus in the fall opened up opportunities to rehearse and perform in person.

The Band rehearses six feet apart in the Theater.

Every change this year had its "silver linings," however, according to music teacher Luca Antonucci, who conducts the group. Adhering to social distancing guidelines, the Band ditched rehearsing in the Greenroom for the Ruth Corkin Theater, which allowed for more spaced-out rehearsals.

"We were lucky that we were able to rehearse in the Theater this year, so that was a bonus," Antonucci said.

Jerry Dong '23 and Sevak Glorikian '23, two of the five pianists in the Band this year.

While the rest of the Band agrees that practicing in-person is far superior to remote learning, the School's hybrid schedule created gaps in the rehearsal process. When remote learning occurred during rehearsal days, the group met virtually on Zoom to discuss logistics rather than playing music.

"There was less rehearsal time than before this year," Michael Young '23 said. "Rehearsing during concurrent learning days was virtually impossible due to lag on Zoom."

Director Luca Antonucci leads the band through a new song during rehearsal.

The pandemic also forced the Band to rearrange its instrumentalists, as health restrictions prevented woodwind and brass players from practicing in person.

Flutist Ugo Adiele '23 and trumpeter Dieter Gartner '22 took on the piano rather than their primary instruments.

"I am so impressed and proud of Ugo and Dieter for all of the hard work they put in," Antonucci said. "It is not an easy thing to switch instruments, and they really put in a lot of work to make it happen."

After learning concurrently since the beginning of the year, Adiele returned to Band in late March, less than two months before the final concert of the year, trading his flute for the piano.

"It was very difficult and weird to join Band in the middle of the year and start playing a brand-new instrument," Adiele said. "However, with Mr. Antonucci’s guidance, I think I picked it up really quickly."

Gartner did not join the group until the second semester of the year due to restrictions on playing trumpet, his main instrument.

"I started off the first semester not even being in Band because I was gambling whether I would be allowed to play trumpet second semester," Gartner said. "I actually ended up playing piano in the concert."

Also entering the Band late was pianist Jerry Dong '23, a concurrent learner until May. Dong joined the group only days before the first concert in November.

"It was difficult for me to learn the pieces quickly," Dong said. "It definitely took more time, and I had to work individually with Mr. Antonucci, staying late after Band practices to work on the music. After all of that work, I think I did pretty well."

Jack Nathanson '23 takes the solo in "Godzilla."

The Band performed live in three concerts during the school year. Unable to hold a full audience due to social distancing guidelines, the performances were live-streamed online and recorded with professional video and audio courtesy of audio engineer Kyle Olmstead, lighting designer Laura Hildebrand, and a videography team led by Sam Powell.

In November, the group played a variety of jazz, rock, and funk-fusion music by artists such as The Meters, Booker T. and the M.G.'s, and Dave Brubeck.

When rock guitarist Jack Nathanson '23 joined Band at the beginning of the year, Antonucci said he knew the Band had to perform a hard rock song. The group voted to play "Godzilla" by Blue Öyster Cult, a song Antonucci said he would never think to choose as a classical trumpeter himself.

Nathanson '23 took the lead on "Godzilla," shredding the guitar on his solo.

The Band opens its first concert of the year with music by Booker T. and the M.G.'s.

The Band has several dedicated multi-instrumentalists like Nathanson, who also plays drums, drummer-guitarist Kolja Westhues '23, and drummer-pianist-vibraphonist Sevak Glorikian '23.

Players rotated instruments throughout the season, challenging their musicianship and keeping the group dynamic fluid as they took solos and led songs.

Jack Nathanson '23 on drums.

Kolja Westhues '23 on drums.

Sevak Glorikian '23 on drums.

Jack Nathanson '23 on guitar.

Kolja Westhues '23 plays the guitar with Jack Nathanson '23 outside.

Sevak Glorikian '23 on vibraphone.

For its next concert, the Band invited two of the School's musicians in residence to perform in March. Pianist Jonathan Fagan performed a set of jazz pieces on piano, accompanied by poetry recited by Terry E. Carter.

Fagan is the creator of the Jonathan Fagan Ally Project, a music partnership with other local artists. Carter is the author of the "Brown Skinned Quintet," a book of poetry, which he calls “spirit-led, inspired verse by a dynamic voice in American Poetry.”

To close out the concert, The Band joined Carter and Fagan to play Beloved Country, with poetry written by Carter and instrumentation by Fagan.

Carter said he has been collaborating with Fagan for several months, focusing on the intersection of social justice with music and poetry.

Following Spring Break, Fagan and Carter returned to present more jazz music and poetry for Greenline and Band students. "These guys have been cookin'," Carter said of the students in Band to the audience.

Fagan and Carter returned to campus to perform jazz music and poetry once again.

Fagan plays piano while Carter recites a poem.

With Terry E. Carter and Jonathan Fagan, the Band performs "Beloved Country."

The Band performs "Take Five," with Jack Nathanson '23 joining Kolja Westhues '23 on drums.

During the spring semester, the Band collaborated with Greenline, the Upper School's choir, and two Lower School guest soloists. The groups recorded a virtual performance of "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles.

With Greenline, the Upper School Choir, the Band performs "Here Comes the Sun."

Kieran Cross '23 solos in "Paranoid Android" on the guitar.

By May, the Band had undergone many changes, but players were not ready to wind down quite yet. Adiele and Dong returned to begin rehearsing for the Spring Concert, and the group decided on Radiohead's "Paranoid Android" for its song of choice.

Reflecting on the past year in Band, the group unanimously agrees that they are excited for wind and brass players to return to their original instruments.

"As a result of wind and brass players taking piano, we have five pianists right now, and that is not a bad thing, but it is kind of sad that we are kind of falling into monotony," Cross said. "I think we still play well, and the people that have picked up piano this year have been doing spectacular."

Westhues agrees. "With woodwind and brass, the music can be more interesting and complex pieces put together with different instruments," he said.

Despite not being able to play trumpet this year, Gartner thinks the Band did a great job at adjusting to changes due to COVID-19.

"It was a bummer to miss out on songs that might be really great if we had a brass section, but we did the best we could, and I think it went really well," Gartner said. "I will be coming back to Band next year, and I am definitely excited to play trumpet again."

The Band plays "Paranoid Android" by Radiohead.

For all three concerts, the Band performed for a nearly empty house. Seated six feet apart, less than 20 audience members attended each concert. For the first time in months, people were able to hear live music on campus. Other viewers tuned into the live stream to watch the performances.

The Band warms up before the live stream starts in the empty Theater.

Antonucci is pleased with the work that the Band has accomplished this year.

"They persevered through a year that was really tough. It was hard for everybody for all kinds of reasons, but the Band showed up to rehearsal, they were committed, and they brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm, and I am really proud of all of the hard work they did," Antonucci said.

As a new student to the School this year, Nathanson said that he has gotten to know other Band members well.

“At the beginning of the year, I didn’t really know anyone, but over time I’ve been getting closer to people in Band, and I feel welcomed," Nathanson said.

"If I had moved here last year or next year, I could see people more often and get to know them quicker, but this year we have to deal with masks and social distancing."

Westhues said he is proud of what his bandmates accomplished this year.

"COVID definitely complicated things, but we all rose to the challenge and made some great music," Westhues said.

Young said that playing "Paranoid Android" was the highlight of his year in Band.

"I'm a Radiohead fan, so I'm really glad we chose that," Young said.

Cross looks forward to having a larger live audience during performances next year.

"It is definitely nice to have a lot more people cheering, and it feels like you are putting on a performance for many more people than just your bandmates," Cross said.

Kyle Terino '24 is glad that the Band no longer has to record footage for virtual conncerts.

"I definitely prefer having a live audience to recording a concert at home," Terino said. "It just feels like a much bigger deal, having a lot more people cheering for you."

Terino looks forward to returning to Band next year as a 10th-grade student. By then, he hopes that COVID-19 restrictions will be fewer.

"As a group, we have definitely learned a lot from COVID, and I think we made a lot of progress this year," Terino said.

During a historic school year, the Band has bonded as a group and brought joy to members of the community with its music.