UMASS Lowell Music Students Reach Out to McCarthy Bands & Chorus

McCarthy Band Members is grades 5-6 were treated to performances by Music majors studying at UMASS Lowell last week. Band Directors Sean Wright and Allison Lacasse, along with Professor Jeff Fischer, coordinated these in-school performances for the musicians at McCarthy.
 
On Thursday, October 17, a Brass Trio (Ryan Bennett, Benjamin Ruesch, and Dan Tourtellot) visited a 6th Grade Band rehearsal and discussed what it takes to play well together in a brass trio. On Friday, October 18, 6th Graders listened to a lively Percussion Quartet (Danny Dugan, Kevin Dacey, Joe Hartigan, and Jesse Stiglich) who put on a riveting performance and discussed how important it is to listen to each other while playing music in a group. A Jazz group (Steve Fournier, Jimmy Edwards, Logan Strong, Danny Dugan, Jesse Stiglich) came in and demonstrated improvisation to a 5th Grade class. A “Strange” Quartet (Kari Olsen, Ryder Corey, Liz Langelier, Daniel Sebring) of mixed instrumentation discussed arranging music to a 5th Grade class, and a Vocal Quartet (Hallie Grosse, Richard Chonak, Adam Kaplowitz, and Morgan Llorens) visited the 6th Grade Chorus.
 
All of the students were entertained and inspired by the level of playing and engaging personalities of the college students. Each group put together a special and unique children’s program that would send an important musical or personal message to the young musicians at McCarthy. This performance opportunity is part of a Performance Seminar course at UMASS Lowell taught by Professor Jeff Fischer.
 
Please contact Allison Lacasse if you have any questions or comments. Lacasse is available by email at: Lacassea@chelmsford.k12.ma.us.