On the evening of Wednesday, February 11, students, staff, and parents gathered to watch the annual JP Stevens winter band concert in the auditorium. The night was filled with an excellent repertoire of music from the freshman and symphonic band, a handful of small ensembles, and the wind ensemble.

Students entered the band room to warm up at around 6:30pm. The freshmen wore white tops and black bottoms, as they do every year, which contrasted with the all-black dressing of the symphonic band members. The wind ensemble students, on the other hand, had dressed in tuxedos and dresses for the big night.

After a brief warm-up, the freshman band took the stage and performed. They started off with an energetic march by Fred Jewell titled “E Pluribus Unum March,” followed by “Rhythm of the Winds” by Frank Erickson. The latter song had a rhythmic foundation that emphasized off-beats and formed a classic syncopated pattern. Finally, the freshmen concluded with an enthusiastic tune called “Fall River Overture” by Robert Sheldon.

Freshman Reyansh Shah, who plays the bass clarinet, remarked, “We learned this piece in 5 weeks and were instructed to play it to the best of our ability, without any pressure, and to just enjoy the music. If I had to describe the experience, I would say it made me feel free.” It was certainly an unshackling performance for the freshmen, not to mention a grand start to the evening.

Next, students from the symphonic band started to set up, and Mr. Henricksen gave a brief overview of what the audience would hear. Sophomore Prabaht Ankem, who plays in the band, gave a vivid description of their show, “It was truly an exciting concert to be a part of. We started with “Liberty Bell March” by John Philip Sousa, a difficult piece filled with strength from the low brass and moving notes from the woodwind.” They then moved on to “Fantasy on a Japanese Folk Song” by Samuel Hazo, a song that narrates a rich story of a native Japanese girl’s life. 

Featured on the song was flute player and soloist Arnav Choudary, who played expressively and gracefully. Ankem continued, “We ended our night with “Illumination.” This song was unlike the others, mixed with powerful moments and soothing sections. Overall, this concert was a blast, and it will be a special one to me forever.” Following a tumultuous applause and a quick interlude showcasing the clarinet choir, students from both bands settled themselves into seats, waiting for the last performance.

Finally, the time had arrived for the anticipated wind ensemble to perform. Students settled into their seats and parents began recording as band director Mr. John Zazzali gave a quick introduction to everybody. He commended all the students who had made region and all-state band, something that a majority of the wind ensemble had achieved. He shared his gratitude to everyone who attended the concert, and the program started with a march titled “Symphonic Concert March” by G. Bonelli and edited by Nicholas Falcone, showcasing a powerful low brass. Next, Mr. Henricksen conducted “Masquerade for Band,” which was filled with rhythmic and harmonic intricacies. “Overture to Candide” by Leonard Bernstein was the final arrangement, a high-energy and enthusiastic number that captivated the attention of every listener. 

Junior Eshin Nadpara, a tuba player in the wind ensemble, said, “We’ve only been playing these challenging pieces for a couple of months now, and I think the band’s progression has been great. I hope that by the time we meet competitions in the near future, we have perfected our repertoire and sound even better.” 

Many students felt the same way, seeing the concert as a success after a short winter that lacked intensive, long practices. Overall, the night was filled with success in many students’ eyes. 

When reflecting upon the event, euphonium player and senior Sai Yerra exclaimed, “The night of the concert was freezing outside, but inside it felt really warm with everyone supporting us. I loved playing “Masquerade” because it was so fun and unpredictable. It was a great night for the Wind Ensemble.” 

This does a great job of encompassing how the majority of players felt – everybody went home that night feeling accomplished and pleased with the JP Stevens band program.