Warwick welcomes Jazz Knights to annual Pops Concert next Wednesday

WARWICK — The West Point Jazz Knights will take the stage on Wednesday evening, Feb. 29, as guest artists for the Warwick Valley High School’s annual Pops concert.

The Jazz Knights always draw large audiences as they present “the best in big band favorites, popular music and original compositions and arrangements for jazz ensembles,” according to the group’s promotional material.

The evening will provide, Warwick Valley High School Director of Bands Chris Persad said, a “unique opportunity for the district’s students to play alongside these accomplished and talented musicians.”

The program In addition to their regular concert program line-up, the Jazz Knights will be playing with Warwick’s Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band.

With the Wind Ensemble, two Knights trumpeters will join in as they play Leroy Anderson’s “Bugler’s Holiday.”

The Warwick Jazz Band will join the Knights for the Glenn Miller Orchestra standard, “In the Mood.”

The Pops Concert also will also feature other outstanding WVHS Music Department ensembles including the Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Keely Blaikner. The Symphony Orchestra is comprised of members of the Orchestra and Wind Ensemble.

The Symphony Orchestra will be playing the Journey classic, “Don’t Stop Believin’.”

The WVHS select choral group, Meistersingers, will provide the vocals for “Baba Yetu” a Swahili adaptation of the “Lord’s Prayer” played by the Symphony Orchestra.

The Meistersingers, this year directed by Kelly McGinn, will also sing an a capella version of the Toto hit, “Africa.”

Persad’s Wind Ensemble and Concert Band will combine to play “Big Band Spectacular” a medley of popular and familiar tunes from the big band era.

As always, the Pops concert promises to be an entertaining evening of music provided by the district’s talented students as well as this year’s guest artist, the West Point Jazz Knights.

Body of work The group’s musicians are comprised of graduates from prestigious music schools such as University of North Texas, the Eastman School of Music, Indiana University, Berklee School of Music and the Manhattan School of Music.

During the school year at the United States Military Academy, the Jazz Knights are part of the larger collection of musical ensembles that include the West Point Concert Band and the Hellcats (field music unit) and provide music at a variety of official functions.

They also have public concerts throughout the year at the academy: Trophy Point in the summer, Eisenhower Hall during the winter. Additionally, the Knights travel extensively to play as guest artists at a variety of events such as jazz festivals, commemorations, patriotic ceremonies, and concerts such as Warwick’s Pops event.

Essential information The concert is presented free and the public is invited to come and hear the area’s premier jazz ensemble.

The pops concert will take place in the Theatre at Warwick Valley High School at on Wednesday, Feb. 29, at 7 p.m. (snow date is Thursday, March 1).