The halls of the historic Lydia Mendelssohn Theater echoed with the sound of phenomenal jazz on Jan. 13. It was the Arctic Blast Concert for the CHS jazz program, and despite the rehearsals covid-19 took from the performers, all of the combos were incredible and professional.
PHS sophomore Elvin Sahijdak (pictured far right) split enrolls at CHS in order to gain access to the renowned jazz program. He plays tenor saxophone in the Earth Combo, a subset of the Jazz Three class. Sahijdak has been playing this style of music since he took up his instrument in fifth grade.
“I'm excited to see the progress all the bands have made,” Sahijdak said, the morning of the big show. “We started out kind of disconnected. It was a very weird first quarter, but then we brought it all together and now it's almost the end of the second quarter. I think we're ready to do a show.”
Sahijdak’s speculation rang true as the concert did not disappoint. The evening was divided into three separate sections to ensure covid-19 safety. Performers and audience members were also required to wear a mask, and wind players sported bell covers on their instruments.
“I think jazz music has played a role in making me a more rounded person,” Sahijdak said. “There are a lot of different styles of jazz from all over the world that I've all listened to. I've enjoyed them, and I like to incorporate them into my own playing.”
Post and video by Lila Fetter
On Jan. 18, 2022, the Ann Arbor City Council unanimously condemned anti-semitism, and, more specifically, anti-semitic protests that have been staged outside of the Beth Israel Congregation every Saturday for 18 years.⠀
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“[The protests] express vile, anti-semitic tropes, peddle conspiracy, and are designed to disrupt an innocent congregation as they gather, infants through elders, to celebrate, mourn, learn and worship,” said Christopher Taylor, mayor of Ann Arbor. ⠀
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The resolution also cites statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Anti-Defamation League that indicate that the Jewish community in America faces a disproportionate and increasing volume of hate crimes. According to the FBI, Jews are targeted in 58% of religious hate crimes, despite being only 2% of the population of the United States.⠀
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Post and photos by Noah Bernstein
Today's Guess Who was Tobin Tuzinsky. In his free time, Tuzinsky likes to hangout with friends, work out and play hockey. ⠀
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“It is a way to connect with friends and a good way to disconnect from all the bad things happening,” Tuzinsky said.⠀
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Photo courtesy of Tobin Tuzinsky⠀
Post by Izzy Stevens
This CHS sophomore is in the Anderson Forum. Guess who it is in the comments and we’ll post a reveal later today!⠀
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Post by Izzy Stevens
Off of Jackson Road, DOZER Cafe and Roasters is a delicious, new coffee shop!!
DOZER Cafe and Roasters has a great menu and a variety of snacks. The menu is expensive compared to most coffee shops, but the result is worth it. Inside, there is music playing and plenty of customers chatting over coffee.
The seating varies from high-top tables, booths and even outdoor seating. The service was super quick and friendly.
DOZER Cafe and Roasters rating: 7/10
Post and IGTV by Reagan Masek and Ailish Kilbride
Lydia Cocciolone and a few of her close friends wanted to do something spontaneous one night after the first big snow. The night began with some light sledding in Hunt Park, but they quickly wanted to do more. They decided to see what downtown Ann Arbor was like in the middle of winter.
“We decided it would be super fun to go downtown and roll around in the dirty city snow for some reason,” Cocciolone said.
Cocciolone didn’t expect her night to end up this way but was pleasantly surprised by how entertaining downtown Ann Arbor was at night. She also discovered the perfect photo opportunity.
“[The photo] reminds me of how much of a good time we were having,” Cocciolone said. “I’d never played on a dirty snowbank before and I would say that it’s an 8.5/10 experience.”
Cocciolone enjoys looking back on this photo because of how much joy it brings her to see herself and friends throwing snowballs and watching the cars roll by. The photo reminds her of the many reasons she enjoys winter.
Post by Ivy Prochaska
Photo courtesy of Lydia Cocciolone
Mirabel Madrigal lives in a magical house, filled with magical people. Each member of her family has a unique gift, whether it’s the ability to talk to animals or super strength, given to them by the family miracle… that is, every member except Mirabel. Though she has no gift, when Mirabel finds a prophecy detailing the miracle’s grim fate, she vows to solve the mystery and save her family, powers or not.
In Disney’s newest movie, “Encanto”, Mirabel and her family populate a world of vibrant, intricate animation. Everything from Mirabel’s swirling embroidered skirt to the flowers that bloom at her sister Isabela’s will is rendered in captivating detail: the visuals of the film are nothing short of enrapturing, even without the plot layered on top.
The standout piece, though, is the film’s music. The movie’s soundtrack album reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for good reason. The songs highlight the story’s Colombian setting, using rhythms from bachata and salsa, and are accompanied by beautifully detailed dance sequences: but more than that, they’re incredibly, unforgettably, catchy. “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” where each of the Madrigals gossip in turn about an estranged (and, of course, plot-relevant!) uncle, shines in particular. The lyrics will never leave your head.
“Encanto”, in the end, represents the very best of Disney’s art, music, and magic. If you’re looking for a movie to watch with family, or a movie to admire as a piece of art, or any movie at all, “Encanto” is one to keep in mind.
“Encanto” is now in theaters and available by subscription on Disney+.
Post by Rita Ionides
This week's #CommunicatorEats features vegan chocolate peppermint crinkle cookies. These delicious cookies are crispy on the outside and fudgy in the middle, with the mint flavor adding to the chocolate and making them taste even better than their non-minty counterparts. This recipe from My Darling Vegan is the perfect dessert to end any meal!
Check the link in our bio for the recipe!
Post and photo by Laurel Peterson
Happy #FashionFriday! This week features senior Julia Kirschenmann. Her favorite part of her outfit is her flowery pants, which she didn’t like at first but now loves them. She also wears a green top, brown shoes, and gold jewelry. ⠀
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As her style has evolved, Kirschenmann has tried to shop more secondhand.⠀
“I think it has improved my wardrobe,” she said. “Because I can go in with not one idea and still come out with something that I will wear for years to come.”⠀
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Kirschenmann has been thinking more about fashion. ⠀
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“I think for me, fashion is not so much a representation of who I am,” she said. “I’d say it’s more of what my mood is because when I’m more energized, when I’m more motivated, I put together cleaner outfits and I plan them. When I’m tired, when I’m unmotivated, it’s just not as thought through.”⠀
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Photos by Abbi Bachman and Morgan McClease ⠀
IGTV by Morgan McClease⠀
Post by Abbi Bachman
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