Longfellow Middle School Concert 2007
Seventh and eighth graders from Longfellow Middle School had a triumphant debut of its Performing Arts program to end a successful school year. The school held its concert to showcase the musical, theatrical, and choral talents of its students, at the beautiful auditorium of the nearby Longfellow Elementary School.
On a night that paid homage to the school’s arts legacy past, ambitious present, and hopeful future, the students were on a mission to let the rebirth and celebration begin. They kicked up their heels, raised their voices, and played their instruments loudly enough for the sweet sounds to hit the rafters
Their accomplishment was no small undertaking. Each of Longfellow’s instructors worked with the middle-schoolers many hours to make sure that they were ready for their debut performance.
Kelly Oram arrived at Longfellow Middle School in late January 2007 to become the Band Director, for a school that had no active band. Recruitment was swift, and 30 students answered the call to become aspiring musicians.
Under Oram’s tutelage, by April, the school had a band to call its own. It has taken a level of determination to get there. The music students are in classes from two to three times per week, and study countless hours at home. Their hard work needed a place to be rewarded.
Enter Longfellow Elementary School, its neighbor to the very near west, or only a few feet away. Mary Spells, the school’s acting principal, offered the use of its auditorium. To complete the fledgling program, several of the elementary school’s students also participated.
There were 119 middle school students, who performed selections from the popular Disney series, High School Musical. Soloists included, Alexander Reaves, Hannah Brown, Devon Grant, Symone Reid, and Jerome Ware. Norell Williams had a solo performance of the Billy Joel classic, “New York State of Mind.” There were also several band and percussion selections played at the event.
The Longfellow Elementary School Steppers also participated. In a show of unity between the two schools, the LES & LMS Praise Dancers also gave a performance. Mary Spells, and Patricia Griffin directed them.
Spells probably stated it best, “We are one big community, in one big school district. We needed to promote something together for one big family.”
Franco Middle School the predecessor to Longfellow Middle School, closed in June of 2005. When Longfellow opened that September on the city’s south side, many of the former Franco staff transferred to the newly constructed school.
Middle School Choral Director, Beth Jennings-Eggar, once held court over an extraordinary Franco School Choir of 250 students. However, to meet the needs of raising standardized test scores in English and math, choir and band were reduced to become electives.
However, the middle school recently saw a nine point rise in standardized scores. The concert is now the first step in what the teachers will hope will be a chance for the band and chorus to once again become an integral part of the school community. To that end, several Franco chorus alumni came back, to show the positive impact that the choral program had on their lives.
Tenisha Austin, a soprano, and 2002 Franco graduate, gave a show-stopping rendition of Gershwin’s “Summertime.” Her classmate Gabrielle Felippe followed suit with a rousing performance of Mozart’s, “Magic Flute: Papageno’s Song.” John Isaac, who is a bass/baritone, sang Schumann’s “Widmun G.” Patrick Brown, a Franco graduate, who would later attend the Choir Academy in Manhattan, was also at the event.
After the performance of the alumni members, Mary Spells said, “It is wonderful to see the talent! It is a pleasure to let the District know what we can produce in the school system!”
Ed Clarkson-Farrell, the middle school’s Drama Director, had nothing but optimism for the upcoming school year. “We are retooling the drama department. It will be wonderful. Next year the seventh graders will be doing ‘Guys and Dolls’ and learn the discipline of dance. It will teach them real life experiences that will show what it means to put your best side forward.”
