As the result of highly competitive statewide auditions, Rob Gold and Alec Pombriant appeared with the Massachusetts All State Honors Band and Jazz Band in a Saturday performance at Symphony Hall.
On Sunday, both of
Three of our student musicians received recognition for Outstanding Musicianship during the jazz competition. They were Paul Lepro, Joe Phillips, and David Morris. Congratulations to all of our music students.
SHS BANDS & CHOIRS SHINE AT UNH CLARK TERRY JAZZ FESTIVAL
The SHS 6:00 jazz band traveled on Saturday, March 10th to the University of New Hampshire to participate in the Clark Terry Jazz Festival where they struck gold once again. Of the 18 bands competing in Division A Stoughton was named the festival’s “Most Outstanding Jazz Band.” While the UNH Festival holds no official status as a championship event, the competition is widely regarded as the preeminent event in the Northeast and draws the best performing bands and choirs from the greater New England and New York area. Stoughton's performance must be regarded as an outstanding achievement, both for the entire staff of the public school's music department and for the talented students whose spirit, enthusiasm, and dedication outshone all of the stage lights at UNH. Also performing were the SHS Jazz Combo who received an honorable mention and the SHS Jazz Choir.
SHS Jazz Band, Jazz Choir, Jazz Combo successful at Berklee Jazz Festival
Stoughton High School ’s jazz program received many accolades at the annual Berklee Jazz Festival. On Saturday March 17, 2007, three SHS jazz groups competed successfully with bands from across the country in the annual Berklee College of Music Jazz Festival. Groups from as far away as California and Florida were in attendance. The Stoughton High School Jazz Band placed 3rd in Class III Division competition at the annual Berklee Jazz Festival. The new SHS Jazz Combo placed third in its class and the Jazz Choir placed sixth in their class. The festival also recognizes the most outstanding musicians of the festival. From all the groups present saxophonist Alec Pombriant was recognized as the Division III most outstanding soloist in both the big band and combo categories. Michele Audain was named most outstanding vocalist in the jazz choir division.
This is the fifth year that the band has placed in the festival. 3rd place 2003, 2nd place 2004, 1st place 2005, 3rd place 2006 & 2007. As a result of this honor, the Stoughton HS Music Department has received $1,500 in scholarships for its music students to attend Berklee summer music programs. Over 200 Jazz bands attend this event. Each year, Berklee College of Music hosts its Annual High School Jazz Festival at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Massachusetts. Berklee's annual event is the largest of its kind in the United States.
This past Sunday, March 25, the SHS Tuesday and Wednesday Jazz Bands performed in Westborough Massachusetts at the State Jazz Festival. Only the best bands in the Commonwealth were selected for this event. Gold medal winners only were recommended to participate at the next level. However, on the basis of an outstanding performance, the Stoughton “Wednesday Band” was the only Silver Medal recipient at this event to be recommended to attend the state finals. The Stoughton High School Jazz Program continues a tradition of excellence! Best of luck to all students who will participate.
As a result of extremely competitive state-wide auditions on January 27, 2007, two of our senior students, Alec Pombriant and Robert Gold, have been selected to perform with the 2007 All State Jazz Band and Concert Band. Stoughton High School is very proud to lay claim to having two student musicians who are the BEST IN THE STATE! The All State Band, sponsored by the Massachusetts Music Educators ;Association, will meet on Thursday March 22 and Friday March 23 for rehearsal in Boston at the park Plaza Hotel. The concert, being recorded on a CD, will be presented at 2:00 PM on Saturday, March 24 at the historic Symphony Hall in Boston, Ma. We would like to wish Rob and Alec all the best as they participate in this event.
SHS Students Dennis McCormick and Shaul Kushinsky, and O’Donnell Middle School students Adam Kenney, Tony Barros, and Damani Barbosa also participated this weekend in the Southeast Regional Junior Music Festival held in Attleboro, MA. These students auditioned for the opportunity to play at this festival. Tony Barros and Dennis McCormick performed with the Jazz band, Adam Kenny and Shaoul Kuskinsky performed with the Concert band and Damani Barbosa performed with the chorus. We are very proud of these students and their outstanding achievement.
This weekend kicks off the Town Wide Raffle run by Parents of Performing Students. First Prize is $500! Many other prizes are offered. If you see the students out this weekend, please purchase tickets in order to keep this tradition of musical excellence alive in our town. We can’t do it without your help!
To learn more about our music department visit our site at www.Music.stoughtonschools.org
Nancy Morris , Publicity –POPS, Inc. 1-617-620-2169
Sinai to Pay Tribute to George Small, Franklin Sports VP, at Fairmont Copley Plaza Gala
STOUGHTON, MA — More than 300 guests are expected to attend the Stepping Out annual gala event to support New England Sinai Hospital Foundation’s annual fundraising program on May 12, 2007 and a special tribute for the evening’s honoree, George Small. The Gala will honor Small, a resident of Sharon, MA and Vice President of Accounting and Finance at Franklin Sports in Stoughton. Small has been a longtime member of Sinai’s Board of Directors and has served as chairman of the Board’s Finance Committee for 14 years. Friends and supporters can purchase tickets and contribute through sponsorships, program book ads and auction buys. The evening program includes a reception and silent auction; a sumptuous, formal dinner and entertainment by The Liverpool Legends, The Ultimate Beatles Experience. In addition to the tribute to George Small, the 2007 Compassionate Caregiver Award will be presented. Tickets for the gala are $175 per person. For information on ticket purchase, sponsorship packages and program book advertisements, call the Sinai Foundation Office at (781) 297-1153.
COMEDY NIGHT GOES TO THE DOGS
A Benefit Comedy Night, starring HBO "The Soprano's" star (and two-time Snyder's Stougton TV Guest) Frank Santorelli and featuring Kerri Louise, Annette Pollack, and Chris Tabb will be held on April 28 at 8 p.m. at Mike Harmon's Stoughton Cinema Pub. It is a benefit for Blue Dog, a "pet" cause of Harmon.
Many people in
Tickets are available for $20 at Bob's Food Mart (781-344-3666), or Brockton Blue Dog Shelter (1508-588-5661). Tickets will be available at the door for $25.
STOUGHTON RESIDENTS NEED TO ACT ON BRICKSTONE, TOO!
Because of the community’s response to the enormous scale of the original Brickstone project (off Bay Road in Sharon, not far from the Stoughton line) the developer went back to the drawing board and have proposed a scaled back version. They now want to build 6 eight story high rise buildings containing six hundred and twenty four (624) luxury apartments, a four hole par three golf course, a one hundred and fifty (150) bed nursing home, restaurants, dry cleaners, convenience store, post office, health club facilities, amenities buildings, maintenance building, fuel storage facilities, pumping station and a waste water treatment plant.
None of these 624 luxury units will be designated affordable housing. This will have the effect of increasing the affordable housing deficit by 62 units. To ameliorate this deficit, Brickstone has proposed to partner in some aspects of construction with another developer who is building affordable housing. They would also give Sharon a million dollar payment to invest in a thirty three unit 40B development. No mitigation will be paid to Stoughton or Easton. It’s not clear at this point how this will come together for the town. Their offset proposal will not match the tax consequences to the town for the 62 units of affordable housing.
Water problems and shortages, traffic, visual sighting, possible damage to the environment and eco-structure has not been resolved but the project is on a fast track for rezoning at Sharon's May Town Meeting. This is not the time to let up on the pressure with Brickstone. There are too many unanswered questions and due diligence demands restraint. You will soon be seeing an advertising campaign by Brickstone extolling the virtues of the project. Now is our best time--and perhaps our only chance-- to get the answers we need. It will be too late if the zoning article is approved in haste.
“Don’t rezone for Brickstone” signs are available. Please let us know if you will put one up in your community. We will deliver the sign to you. Contact Norm MacInnis of CFRLU at info@cfrlu.org.
IMPORTANT BRICKSTONE MEETINGS:
Thursday, March 29, 7:45 p.m., Sharon Town Hall -- Brickstone Meeting with
Conservation Commission
Wednesday, April 4, , 7:30 p.m., Sharon High School Library --
Brickstone Meeting with Economic Committee and Selectmen
10th Annual Fundraising Concert at Stoughton High School Auditorium,
featuring the soft sounds of the Cavaliers (You might remember them from their summer gazebo concert).