Musical Magnificence

Jesuit High School musicians took the stage Thursday evening (Feb. 14) for a sensational Solo and Ensemble Concert in the MPR.

The annual event featured band musicians, guitarists, and percussionists under the leadership of Jesuit's music director, Nina Wegmann. The concert consisted of six ensemble and 16 solo performances, with pieces ranging from Claude Debussy's "Claire De Lune" and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee," to "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by George Harrison. The evening concluded with the percussion sextet fusing a number of Michael Jackson's most recognizable songs into "The King of Pop Medley," which was met with a thunderous applause from the crowd and a standing ovation.

The Solo and Ensemble Concert followed a fantastic weekend for Jesuit music, as six soloists earned Superior ratings at the District competition at Brandon High School, and Jesuit's percussion sextet also earned a Superior rating.

The Superior soloists were Ryan Finster '22 (baritone horn), David Jacobsen '21 (marimba), Miggy Sumagang '21 (snare drum), John Barreto '21 (snare drum), Robert Morrison '19 (marimba), and Michael Skarupa '22 (trumpet), and the percussion sextet was comprised of Jacobsen (xylophone), Sumagang (marimba), Alex Good '19 (vibraphone), Karol Piedad '19 (marimba), Morrison (orchestra bells) and Freddie Brinson '19 (drum set).

In addition, seven soloists earned ratings of Excellent, as did the trumpet trio, trombone quartet, and baritone quartet. The Excellent-rated soloists were: Edward Morrison '21 (baritone horn), Sebastian Greenberg '20 (french horn), Drew Hanis '19 (alto saxophone), Kegan Lovell '19 (piano), Piedad (marimba), Good (marimba), and Kevin Beck-Perez '21. The Excellent ensembles were: trumpet trio – Skarupa, Theo Baier '22, and Nathan Hyde '22; trombone quartet – Jack Wernet '19, Beck-Perez, Ethan Nunez '21, and Dominic Cartaya '22; and baritone quartet – Wernet (trombone), Finster (baritone horn), Nico Machado '21 (baritone horn), and Edward Morrison (tuba).

Please see below a photo slideshow from Thursday's Solo and Ensemble Concert.