North’s annual fall concert, Harvestfest, kicked off the music department’s year of performance with enchanting and transcendent songs. 

Harvestfest played Thursday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Lasker Auditorium, featuring outstanding performances from the Vocal Ensemble, Combined Chorus, Tiger Bebop, Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Ensemble. 

The night began with the director of North’s performing arts program Todd R. Young delivering an introductory speech for the first formal music concert of the year. Then, the vocal ensemble directed by fine and performing arts teacher Adam Grossman, joined the stage and kicked Harvestfest off. They started with a song titled “Do you Not Know”, then sang “Ashokan Farewell” with Grossman playing piano alongside, and finished off their performance with “Hey, For the Dancing,” a fast thrilling song that brought excitement to the crowd. 

Following the vocal ensemble’s performance, the Combined Chorus, directed by Grossman and fine and performing arts teacher Sheldon Reid, filled the stage, starting their performance with a song called “El Grillo. ” After this performance, their voices filled the room singing, “Oh, How Can I Keep From Singing”, an angelic song that left the audience in awe. Lastly, the Combined Chorus sang “Ja Ya Nma”, an upbeat and cheerful Nigerian piece meaning “Praise Him”. 

“I was proud of one of the pieces we did with the combined chorus of  ‘Oh, How Can I Keep From Singing,’” said Grossman. “It really just came together in the last day or two and started to sound like music for the first time.”

Next, Tiger Bebop, a jazz group directed by music teacher Richard Labedz combining complex harmony and rhythms, came out to perform an uplifting, entertaining song “The Sunny Side of the Street,” followed by a beautifully sounding song called “My Romance.” Both of these performances had intriguing and astounding saxophone solos from senior Arnav Travers, a leadership representative of Tiger Bebop. 

“It’s a very great event that we have at Newton North to bring all musicians together.” “I felt very accomplished with what we’ve done throughout the year and I really enjoyed being up there and working with fellow peers,” said sophomore Olivia McLoughlin, a member of Tiger Bepop. 

Next, North’s orchestra, directed by Grossman, blew the crowd away with their rendition of “Overture to Alexander” and “Introduzione”.

According to Grossman, one of the best parts of Harvestfest has been working with the students and seeing them improve, as well as seeing the students’ satisfaction in their own progress. 

Wind ensemble and symphonic band, co-directed by Grossman and Labedz, took the stage next, performing impressive pieces titled, “Second Suite for Military Band in F Major”, and “Brazilian Folk Dance Suite”. In their last song “Among the Clouds”, the sounds of different instruments meshed together perfectly to create an eerie yet majestic sound. 

“It always feels good to finally get to perform the music we’ve been working on the past couple of months for friends and family,” said senior  Kathryn Fine, a president of the Wind Ensemble. “Also getting to watch the concert is so much fun. It’s so great to see all the groups perform and there is so much talent on the stage.”

According to Fine, Harvestfest is so special because it is one of the only concerts where all of North’s music groups have the opportunity to perform.

Lastly, the night was finished off with the performances from North’s Jazz Ensemble, directed by Labedz. With lots of energy, and different instrument solos, Jazz Ensemble played “Cubano Chant”, “Bye Bye Blackbird”, and “Manteca”, maintaining an upbeat tune through each, ending the night memorably. 

Overall, Harvestfest was an extraordinary experience and an impressive start to the year from North’s music department.