Bands ready for winter concert

Perk up your ears because this Saturday the Seaford community stage band and jazz band will be hosting their annual winter concert at Seaford High School.
Starting at 7:30 p.m., an ensemble of 55 players will be performing timeless tunes from Broadway musicals and orchestra pieces to anyone willing to stop in to the school auditorium and listen.

“I was asked to do this a few years ago after we put on a Seaford High School alumni concert,” stage band conductor Keith Schmidt said. “A few players saw me conduct and with coordination through the upper administration, I was able to take on a leading role.”

The Seaford community band first formed back in the 1980s after Joseph Manso brought various musicians together for a stage band. He worked in the Seaford music department for many years from the elementary level all the way up to high school. The auditorium is named after Manso.

“It’s like an extension of Joe,” band member John Goess said. “This was supposed to be a one-time thing and then Joe decided we were going to keep on going.

Both the stage band and jazz band are open to musicians of all ages and abilities. Whether a professional, a high school student or someone picking up an instrument after years of not playing, there is almost a spot for everyone.
“I’ve never stopped playing and I’ve been playing since the seventh grade,” flute and piccolo player Tricia Danielsen said. “We have our career during the day and then at night we come together and still keep up with our instruments.”

Although practices were shortened due to the holidays and an unexpected flood in the high school basement, the players still feel they are ready to perform on Saturday.

“We aren’t the philharmonic and we know that,” Danielsen added. “But I think we are able to present a great interpretation of the music.”

Both bands practice back-to-back on Wednesday nights in preparation for the concert, which usually runs for about two hours.

“I took over the jazz band a couple of years ago,” director Karen Lisk said. “I had never conducted, before so I had to learn how to listen to all of the other separate parts of the music.”
Lisk is also in charge of handing out solos and making sure the players are queued in at the right time. “I really like picking the music and deciding where it’s going to go,” she added.

For many players, the jazz band is something that has been a part of their lives for a long time. Joe Dagostino is one of the oldest players to perform in the band and for the 89-year-old, 15 years ago feels like yesterday.
“I love music, and playing with this group is terrific,” Dagostino said. “I still see the enthusiasm in everyone and we still maintain a certain standard.”

Even though Dagostino isn’t a professional musician, he says that picking up the clarinet after all of these years is like riding a bike; you just never forget.
“Being able to play, especially at my age, is a great thing,” he added.

On another high note, two high school juniors, Evan and Juliana Groder, also volunteer their time with the community jazz band. The Seaford twins play for the school band as well and enjoy the camaraderie that the practices offer.
“We can challenge ourselves and it’s really fun meeting new people,” Juliana Groder said. “It’s such a great atmosphere.”

The community stage band and jazz band are scheduled to perform again at their annual spring concert on May 14.

“We’ve met people from all walks of life and formed such good friendships,” Danielsen said. “There are a lot of connections here.”