Last Friday the Rensselaer Music Association held the first part of their Family Weekend Concert Series. Arriving in the McNeil Room, my friends and I were greeted by a slew of parents there to see the line up of musical goodness. On the agenda were the Jazz Ensemble, the Rusty Pipes, The Rensselyrics, and The Campus Serenaders.
First up was the Jazz Ensemble directed by Michael K. Craner, who is also a professional bassist and the director of Instrumental Music at Hoosic Valley High School. The eighteen member ensemble began the evening with a piece called “Groovin’ Hard” by Don Menza.
Appealing to my sometimes like of jazz music, the ensemble did a good job performing. Five more pieces were played including Tadd Dameron’s “Hot House,” and Mike Steinel’s “Just a Minor Thing.” The music was interesting and I enjoyed the ensemble’s performance immensely.
Next up was one of the Institute’s a cappella groups, the Rusty Pipes. Singing two of the songs actually on the evening’s program, the Pipes did a good job of changing the audience’s mood. Last time the Rusty Pipes performed I was also pleased with their show. The Pipe’s concluded their segment with “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”
Having changed the ambiance of the concert the Rusty Pipes made a nice segue into RPI’s other a cappella group, The Rensselyrics, after the intermission.
The Lyrics, wearing their black shirts and khaki pants, also did not follow the program exactly but instead sang a selection of the songs listed. First up was Rich Davis singing “Ordinary Day” by Great Big Sea. Davis did a superb job in leading the harmony through this upbeat song.
The group also performed Jars of Clay’s “Flood,” The Calling’s “Wherever You Will Go,” and one of my personal favorites from the Lyrics, Mr. Mister’s “Kyrie Eleison,” sung by Sophie McKenney.
The next group to perform after the Lyrics was The Campus Serenaders, managed by Andrew Littlefield and Mitchell Gold. The Serenaders are a revival of the 1940’s Big Band style of music, one of which I particularly enjoy. Following suit, and playing from a selection of outlined pieces, The Serenaders performed a multitude of upbeat music including “Jump, Jive, & Wail,” and “Zoot Suit Riot.”
At one point the group requested people dance on the floor of the McNeil Room to better enjoy the performance. Members of RPI’s Ball Room Dance club took them up on their offer, and performed some swing dancing to go along with the musical entertainment.
After the band concluded the dance club offered the left over audience members free dance lessons. A brave few stayed, including two of The Lyrics members, McKenney and Carrie DePetris.
Overall the concert was very enjoyable, with a nice mix of music types presented to students and their families. Completing the RMA Concert Series, another performance was given Saturday night, featuring some of the Institute’s other musical groups.
