By John Lyden
Contributing Writer
A series of classical and jazz numbers were performed Sunday by The Saint Rose Saxophone Ensemble and The Saint Rose Clarinet Choir in the Kathleen McManus Picotte Recital Hall in the Massry Center for the Arts.
Each group performed a variety of melodies. The Saxophone Ensemble performed I Feel Pretty, Canzona XV, Havana in the Fifties, and Wind it Up. The Clarinet Choir performed Pomp and Circumstance March, Capriccio, Quartet No. 12 (The “American”), and 12th St. Rag. For this year’s performance the focus was on playing a diverse number of songs.
“It’s important to expose the students to different styles,” said Lenore Aldi-Snow, an adjunct instructor of clarinet, Clarinet Choir, and Secondary Instrument Ensemble at The College of Saint Rose since 2007. “Some of them are transcriptions from orchestral works or quartets from other instruments. It’s important not to have something that’s all the same. I like to give a variety.”
For Robert Wilkins, a senior at Saint Rose who has been involved with The Saint Rose Clarinet Choir since his freshman year, playing at this event gave him a chance to reflect back on how the music program has changed over the years.
“It started off about six or seven years ago with only four players. Last year we had 20 kids,” said Wilkins. “New instruments have been added like the counter base clarinet and the E flat clarinet.”
The musicians would get up from their chairs and move to different positions on the stage throughout the show. They would do this essentially in unison, as if it had been rehearsed for years.
“We shift because the kids need to try secondary instruments,” said Wilkins. “We try to get everybody to play the low and the high instruments. It’s also a way to get everybody playing an instrument they’re most comfortable playing. “
Jimmy Affatigato graduated from Saint Rose earlier this year. He had the opportunity to come back and play with his alma mater band despite no longer being a student at Saint Rose.
“It’s the most fun ensemble,” said Affatigato. “I’m not from Albany originally, but I really like the Saint Rose community so I’m staying around here. I feel welcome even though I’ve already graduated.”
Students do not need to be majoring in music in order to play with The Saint Rose Clarinet Choir. Their aim is to create an inclusive atmosphere where the focus is on the music rather than on the competition.
“We even have some people in the band from the community and from other colleges,” said Aldi-Snow. “I want to give as many people an opportunity as possible.”
