Lee Greenberg was nervous all day before her jazz concert, but when she began to play, all she could think about was the music.
“No matter what you do, it’s scary before a concert,” Greenberg said. “As soon as we actually started playing, I felt really good.”
Greenberg was one of over 80 performers at The Ark on the night of Tuesday, Dec. 17, for CHS Jazz’ annual Arctic Blast, and not the only nervous one. Students gathered in the audience before both shows to set their stuff down and get ready. For Greenberg and many others, this brief time with fellow students helped ease nerves and fostered a sense of community and support across the program.
“Everybody’s there for each other, you’re not the only one who’s scared,” Greenberg said. “And no matter what, if we all try our best, then it’s gonna be a good concert”
Jack Wagner, the CHS Jazz director, repeatedly sees this sense of family within his program. The concert at the Ark was just another example of the love his students share for music and for each other.
“They took care of each other, they came together as a team and they gave the crowd everything they could,” Wagner said. “It was really spirited.”
The support was strong, Both within bands and between students of completely different levels. The students perform at many different types of events, but this is one of only two where the whole program comes together.
For many students, this was their first time performing jazz, but it was exciting even for the more experienced musicians. Wagner is constantly teaching his students new skills, reinforcing or learning the fundamentals and helping them improve. The concert showcased all the hard work that happens behind the scenes.
Family and friends filled the Ark to see this work, and the buy-in from the audience was huge. The supporters were active, cheers resounded after solos and encouragement could be heard all around. For many; CHS teachers, students, family and friends, while supporting performers, the concert was also a coming together of people who appreciate this music and the process.
“During my last solo I saw the guy in the front row and he just nodded with a thumbs up,” Greenberg said. “He made my night.”
Greenberg’s band was the first of the 6:00 show, followed by three smaller combos. The 8:00 show then featured four more bands. Throughout both shows, the energy stayed high and the professionalism and musicianship stood out to both audience members and Wagner. He often is told how professional his students are and how strong the music they make is, but also, the relationships between students.
“People are often commenting on how they love how supportive the kids are of one another, and some people’s favorite part of it is the way that the kids support each other,” Wagner said.
So while nerves can be high at events like these, for CHS Jazz students, the hard work they do to prepare with Wagner and on their own, along with the supporting environment is what plows through those nerves. And when they get on stage, all they think about is the music.
