La Plume – The Keystone College Department of Performance Music was honored to recently present an early spring concert, entitled “We Are Music,” to an enthusiastic crowd of over 350 audience members in The Theatre at Brooks.
Making the event more meaningful was welcoming the Abington Heights High School Jazz Ensemble to campus to open the show and perform alongside Keystone musicians. Earlier in the day, the high school students were provided with a complimentary clinic from Kaitlin (Kate) Anderson where they were able to work on the charts they would be performing that evening, as well as other jazz-based skills.
Originally from Huntersville, Pennsylvania, saxophonist Kate Anderson has performed throughout the United States, Latin America and Europe. She has performed with jazz luminaries Randy Brecker, Phil Woods, and recently The Temptations and The Four Tops. Currently, she is teaching applied saxophone at Mansfield University and performing throughout the NEPA region.
Abington Heights Director of Bands Mr. Mike Lesnesky said: “In an evening filled with wonderful music provided by Keystone’s talented ensembles, we had the privilege of opening the concert with three of our own tunes. In addition, our students received an hour long clinic with Kate Anderson who was phenomenal with bringing the best out of our kids while still having a great time!”
Photo credit: Trista Carpenter Photography
(from left to right), Keystone College alumna Elizabeth Franzo, Abington Heights alumni and current Keystone College student Dylan Cummings, and current Abington Heights senior Ayla Holgate, photo credit Trista Carpenter Photography
Abington Heights alumni and current Keystone College senior Alexandra Thornton, photo credit Trista Carpenter Photography
Guest clinician Ms. Kate Anderson and Keystone Director of Jazz Woodwind Instruction, Mr. Dieter Winterle, photo credit Trista Carpenter Photography
Keystone College Jazz Ensemble and Symphonic Band, photo credit Trista Carpenter Photography
Keystone College Director of Bands & Performance Music Mr. Jeff Tylutki added that, “It really is one of the most rewarding events of the year for us. To see the community come together in this way, whether it is a high school musician, one of our own college players, or an audience member who just loves to experience live music, it really highlights how our art form can bring people together, and we are all grateful for the opportunity to experience that. All of the credit goes to the performing musicians, and the wonderful music educators involved like Mike Lesnesky, Kate Anderson, and our Director of Vocal Music here at Keystone, Rebecca Hetzel, who also teaches at Abington Heights School District, who we are grateful to for supporting their musicians in this endeavor.”
Guest clinician Kate Anderson reflected on the event by stating, “Truly, what an honor to take part in your festival! I was pleasantly surprised with the heart of your students. Throughout the entire concert, there was so much passion and hunger in each performer. What a pleasure to see that REAL music-making was happening tonight. That alone is a credit to the community you’ve cultivated. Awesome work and CONGRATULATIONS on a fantastic event!”
Keystone hopes to expand upon this event in the future, welcoming more high schools to campus for the chance to perform and learn from fantastic clinicians, which they will always provide to these young musicians at no cost. The Department of Performance Music would also like to invite everyone in the area to two upcoming spring concerts, as well. The KC Symphonic Band and Vocal Ensembles will present their concert on Sunday, April 28, and the Jazz Ensemble will perform the following week, on May 5. Both concerts will be at 7 pm, are free and open to the public, and will take place in The Theatre at Brooks on the beautiful Keystone College campus.