As spring neared and the songbirds appeared, the MRHS Music Department got ready for their annual spring Jazz Concert, also known as Jazz at the Ridge, featuring both the Mount View Middle School (MVMS) and Marriotts Ridge choirs and bands. With excellent performances, all performing groups were left with great reviews from many of the audience members.
Ample practice and rehearsal goes into each Jazz Concert. In the week leading up to the concert, the jazz band works in extra rehearsals to ensure that their performances are the best they can be.
“The jazz band rehearses before school starting at 6:50, so for the past few days we’ve been coming in early and rehearsing,” senior Benji Lee said.
The Vocal Ensemble and Madrigals have similar approaches, but take a day to boost morale and excitement for the event.
“Right before we have a pep talk to get all our energy up, and we also have a sing off between the Madrigals and Chamber choir which gives us energy to kind of do better,” senior Aleena Jayan explained.
For many students who are seniors, this Jazz at the Ridge will be their last, leaving them with mixed feelings of excitement, nostalgia and sadness throughout their performance. Though the event is a sentimental one, seniors still showed excitement to perform for their friends and family.
“I’ve been doing two Jazz Concerts a year for four years, so it’s really upsetting that this is my last one, but I’m excited to perform either way,” senior Simar Saini explained.
A unique aspect of the Jazz Concert, compared to other music concerts, was the feature of Mount View’s Chamber Choir and Jazz Band. These groups performed before their respective high school groups, which created a nostalgic atmosphere and delved into the audience member’s hearts, especially students who were previously students at Mount View.
“[The middle school performances] were so cute, and it was really nice to see the choir that I was in so many years ago perform again,” senior Allie Bonier commented.
Overall, the performance was a hit amongst performers and the audience alike. Comments about the performance were generally positive, as this concert created a unique atmosphere between the performers and audience. With food being offered during the intermission, people were given the opportunity to mingle with one another and enjoy delicious snacks offered.
The Jazz Concert was certainly an interactive and theatrical one, featuring dances and hand motions from each choir as they performed. With these performances came audience interaction, which was a goal for many students. Both the band and choir groups felt proud of their performances, and the effect that they left on the audience.
“That was my last Jazz at the Ridge ever as a senior. Our energy was great, and we had a lot of audience interaction which we look forward to every time we perform,” Saini said.
The Spring Jazz Concert is an anticipated event for both student performers and audiences. With the unique aspect of middle school groups performing as well as food being offered, Jazz at the Ridge brings a different environment for listeners to enjoy. Many hope for the tradition to continue in order to enjoy more years of jazzy tunes from the MRHS Music Department.