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Austintown brings sound of jazz to Christmas
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The Austintown Middle School Jazz Ensemble, consisting of the sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders, was the first to perform during the Austintown Fitch Holiday Jazz Festival on Dec. 17. The AMS Jazz Ensemble was directed by Marc Pupino.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.The Austintown Fitch High School's Jazz Ensemble, directed by Wes O'Connor, took its turn to perform. Several soloists were featured throughout the program.
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Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.A baritone saxophone player, Maeson, played his instrument during a solo peformance at the Holiday Concert.
By ALEXIS BARTOLOMUCCI
The Austintown Fitch High School and Austintown Middle School jazz ensembles performed together for their Holiday Jazz Festival at the high school on Dec. 17.
Austintown Middle School’s jazz ensemble was the first performance of the night. The Austintown Fitch High School jazz ensemble followed after. Those who attended were asked to give a donation at the door and all of the proceeds made will be given to the Second Harvest Food Bank.
The AMS jazz ensemble was directed by Marc Pupino. They started off the night with a song called “Spinning Wheel” and ended their performance with “Frosty the Snowman.”
When the AMS jazz ensemble finished their performance, the AFHS jazz ensemble, directed by Wes O’Connor, took the stage. They started their performance with “Jingle Bells” and ended it with “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”
Each jazz ensemble played seven songs during their performance period.
Several students were given the opportunity to showcase their talents by playing a solo. There were multiple solos during the night, and some songs had more than one student who performed a solo.
O’Connor and Pupino would like to give thanks to the jazz band students and their parents for the time and effort that has been put in to the jazz band.
The Fitch band and jazz ensembles perform several concerts throughout the school year and have several performances prepared for the upcoming 2016 year. They also host other events to help raise funds for the band and their expenses.