| THE WMA REAL CONCERT: TALENT |
theFoundation:
A funk, hiphop and soul quartet out of upstate New York has been burning
up clubs and house parties from Yale University to the Brooklyn Academy
of Music since 2001. Their music, while unquestionably funky, is strongly
rooted in the jazz idiom without being cerebral or contrived. http://itsthefoundations.com/
Hyannis
Sound: This a cappella singing group is comprised
of 10 young men from around the country who convene each summer on Cape
Cod. They constantly push to expand the diversity and complexity of their
music and bring to their audience an exciting live show that is unique
and one-of-a-kind, not only from summer to summer, but from one night
to the next. http://www.hyannissound.com/
The
Wolverine Jazz Band: Since 1995 the Wolverine Jazz
Band has been entertaining lovers of Traditional Jazz all over Boston
and southern New England. In Massachusetts alone, they have raised the
roof at the Sherborn Inn, crisped the leaves at sundry Town Green summer
concerts, and flaked the varnish on church pews in the Boston suburbs.
http://www.wolverinejazzband.com/
Under
the Sun Dance and Drum: is
a group of culturally diverse dancers and drummers that is made up of
both performing artists as well as humanistic arts educators of West African
and African rooted dance and music. The company strives to bring these
African rooted arts to a broad range of audiences through performances,
workshops and residencies that are compellingly human, inclusive, interactive
and transformative. The company also strives to bring recognition to the
power and cultural influence of these art forms in Africa, in North America,
and in other regions of the African Diaspora. In addition to performances
and residencies, company members teach ongoing classes and workshops which
include West African drumming; West African, Afro-Jazz, Latin and Hip
Hop dance forms; Movement Healing and Ritual Workshops; and an Arts Based
Summer Studies Abroad Program in Senegal, West Africa. Under the Sun Dance
and Drum is funded under the Massachusetts Cultural Council's Event and
Residency Program and is an active member of the Boston Dance Alliance.
George
Chagnon (Master of Ceremony): George Chagnon, a U.S.
Navy Veteran, is a former successful businessman in Cambridge who moved
from private business to education. George has spent many years involved
in community theatre, his most memorable roles including Capt. VonTrappe
in The Sound of Music, Professor Higgins in My Fair Lady, and Nicky Arnstein
in Funny Girl, as well as many supporting roles in other major plays.
Along with his stage achievements, George has also performed in musical
dinner shows throughout the Boston area. He resides in Douglas, MA with
his wife Marie, and both are soon to be retired and looking forward to
the many new adventures that retirement will bring.
The Legacy Dancers: A professional dance company made up of energetic and enthusiastic young dancers who range in age from 10–18. Performances include a wide variety of dance styles from tap and jazz to musical theater. http://www.thedanceinn.com/legacy.html
Amanda
Powell and Sergio Castellanos: Cellist Sergio Castellanos,
a native of Columbia, and Singer/Pianist Amanda Powell met while studying
music at Shenandoah Conservatory and have enjoyed playing music together
for the past four years both as soloists and as collaborators. An award-winning
cellist, Sergio has had solo and orchestral engagements around the globe,
from Latin America to Europe, from the Palace of the Fine Arts in Brazil
and the Teatro Communale di Trento, Italy, to the Kennedy Center in Washington,
DC. Amanda holds a degree in voice performance from Shenandoah University,
Virginia, has sung lead roles in many opera productions, and has performed
in renowned European venues including Chartres Cathedral in France and
St. Marks Cathedral in Italy. Amanda’s passion for global music
was sparked during summer 2001 when she embarked on a two-month Music
in Mission tour of Southeast Asia, singing in 7 countries including Indonesia,
Cambodia, China and Mongolia. In October 2003 she joined acclaimed actress
and singer Shirley Jones in Nashville, Tennessee to sing with Willie Nelson
and Judy Collins on a nationwide telethon to raise funds for the countries
she visited in Southeast Asia. Amanda currently sings with Novi Cantori,
a professional chamber choir based in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Amanda and Sergio teach music at Wilbraham & Monson Academy in Massachusetts.
They continue to perform both together and as soloists, and share amazing
music from around the world with their audiences.
The Boston Octet:
The Boston Octet is an ensemble of professional string players who have
performed
with all the major Boston musical groups including the Boston Pops Esplanade
Orchestra.The octet is comprised of musicians such as David Finch, who
has been
principal cellist for the Boston Ballet,the Harvard Chamber Orchestra,
the Boston
Pops Esplanade Orchestra and numerous other chamber groups.
Cameron Bossert: Cameron Bossert studies music composition at Bard College. He has been writing pop-songs since his senior year of high school, when he wrote, composed, and directed a musical play about the local aftermath of September 11th. The play was later featured in a documentary on PBS. He has composed in other genres since he was seven years old, when he wrote some of the music for the second of four animated films he has since made. Cameron is also an actor, a visual artist and animator, and aspires to a career in film.
The Checkmate Trio: Three students out of Wilbraham and Monson Academy - with a blend of funk and blues – have cooked up a real smooth sound. Brian Race, on electric bass, has shown his love and passion for music through his playing and continues to be in school concerts and spring musicals. Brian will be attending Virginia Military Institute in the upcoming fall. Sam Greene has enjoyed playing with Brian for three years now and will be focusing on Music as a major at Wheaton College. He has been a student of guitar for eight years and is looking forward to many more. Drummer Nick Curran is a new student at WMA coming in as a junior. He joined the school’s newly established Jazz Ensemble along with Brian and Sam and other talented musicians. Nick plays with feeling and experience and it shows when the Checkmate Trio begins to play.
Adam & Sam Greene: Sam Greene is a senior at
WMA. Along with his academic curriculum he has studied guitar for many
years, being seriously engaged in music theory. He has been inspired by
his ongoing personal correspondence with Archbishop Desmond Tutu to use
music as a way to contribute to humanitarian relief, both at home and
abroad. With help from family and friends, Sam is pleased to be the producer
of the WMA Real Concert and is most thankful to those who have contributed
to the effort.
Sam’s musical performance is in accompaniment with his older brother Adam, a senior at Bard College double-majoring in Creative Writing and Film. Adam has produced several films to date, one of which was screened at the Capitol Theatre in Arlington, MA in 2003. He has been composing jazz and blues on the piano since 5th grade and is currently working on a musical.
