Jazz band goes on tour and wows audiences

By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Meshel MASCO Inc. clients Carol Baker and David Criss hit the dance floor, strutting their stuff to the tunes of the Frank Ohl Middle School jazz band.
George Gabriel, Meshel MASCO workshop director, said that Friday marked the third year that seventh- and eighth-graders from the Austintown school have entertained the clients at the workshop, which is a division of Mahoning County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Board.
Workshop employees work in assembly, packaging, production and manufacturing.
Carol and David were soon joined by clients Debbie Daley, David McKinney and many others swaying, waving their arms, tapping their toes and clapping their hands along with the music. Some paired up while others opted to dance solo.
David, handed an inflatable guitar by one of the workshop specialists, strummed along with the beat to the "Mission: Impossible" theme.
Carol, who left the dance floor only when the band had completed its roughly 30-minute performance, said she enjoyed dancing and though her face was flushed, insisted that she wasn't at all tired.
"It's fun," she said.
Other clients remained in their seats, gathered around the band, tapping their hands on the table, bopping their heads or playing air drums.
About the band
Marc Pupino, director of the jazz band, said the pupils volunteer time to perform with the band. They gather three mornings per week before school, he said.
The band also performed at one of the Austintown elementary schools and at Leonard Kirtz School, which is also part of MRDD, on Friday.
Liana Defuria, 14, and an eighth-grade tenor saxophone player in the band, said she enjoyed performing in the various venues.
"The music is fun to play, and the people are really nice," Liana said.
Workshop employees lined up to shake Pupino's hand after the band wrapped up, congratulating him on a job well-done and telling him about their own musical interests.
Pupino said performing at the workshop each year is a good experience for band members.
"The kids get an education that really can't be taught in the classroom," Pupino said. "They see how blessed they are and see how lucky they are."