Senior student musicians honored at last school concert

by Dan McClelland

The talents of eight graduating seniors at Tupper High were at center stage Tuesday, June 6 when the TLHS music department held its annual spring concert and senior night.

Principal Amanda Zullo offered a very warm welcome to the family members and friends who came out to see the young musicians perform for a final time this school year. She paid tribute to all their hard work to prepare for their public performances this year- and in particular the seniors performing on their alma mater stage this last time.

She thanked the school district leaders, including Superintendent of Schools Russ Bartlett and the school board for supporting the work on the music department, as well as the custodial staff, but mostly the parents of the students who supported their child’s love of music and their work with the student department. The officers this year were students Olivia Ellis, president, Emily Roberts, vice president and Meika Nadeau, secretary/treasurer.

The eight seniors opened the concert by singing Francis Scott Key’s “The Star-Spangled Banner,” with accompaniment by Olivia Ellis on flute and Jamin Whitmore on alto sax.

The high school chorus, under the enthusiastic direction of Elizabeth Cordes, did a great job with four songs that evening. First was the traditional “Down to the River to Pray, followed by the haunting and popular Nants’ Ingonyama (Circle of Life) from The Lion King.

The seniors this year picked Taylor Swift’s “Long Live,” an appropriation selection for their senior song that evening.

The entire auditorium came together in somewhat raucous fashion for the chorus’ finale: Irving Miller and Duke Ellington’s popular and lively “It Don’t Mean a Thing!”

Members of the high school chorus which entertained in style that evening were Seniors Genna Carmichael, Hailey Denis, Meika Nadeau, Emily Roberts, Olivia Tallman, Sierra Welch and Jamin Whitmore. Juniors in the chorus were Cody Auclair and Raegan Fritts. At one point in the program the pair introduced and applauded the seniors, as they came up on stage.

The sophomores in the 2022-23 chorus were Hannah Barber, Elli Dukett, Samantha Flagg, Charels Levey, Ayden Rabideau, Sophia Staves, Tylor Stoll and Nevaeh Toohey. Freshman singers were Joelle Bedore, Hannah and Hailey Callaghan, Antwon Gachowski, Morgan Lohr, Amelia Pratt and Averie Switzer.

Likewise the high school band delivered very strong performances, starting with “American Patrol” by F.W. Meacham and “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” by Mozart.

The band, under the skilled direction of Laura Davison, next performed the well-loved theme from the 1960s favorite television show and later movie, “Mission Impossible.”

The entire evening came together nicely when the chorus and band teamed up for the favorite of many Neil Diamond fans, “Sweet Caroline,” which left many in the audience singing and humming it as they left the auditorium that evening.

As has become something of a tradition for the two local music teachers the seniors were posed with their proud parents at the close of the show.

Members of the 2022-23 high school band included: Olivia Ellis, flute and HS All-County Festival participant, Jamin Whitmore, alto sax, Meika Nadeau, tenor sax and flute and participant in the All-County Festival, Hailey Denis, flute and Sierra Welsh, alto sax. Junior instrumentalists were Raegan Fritts, clarinet and attendee at the All-County Festival and Jamie Henry on mallet percussion. Sophomores in the band this year were Mary Becker, flute, Hannah Barber, alto sax and participant this year at the NYSSMA Solo and Ensemble Festival, CJ Levey, baritone save, Dane O’Conner, percussion and Ayden Rabideau, percussion who attended both the All-County and NYSMA festival.

Those in the band in the freshman class were Alison Richer, clarinet, who participated at both festivals, Amelia Pratt, bass clarinet, Brock Fleishman, alto sax, Averie Switzer, trumpet and Antwon Gachowski, who also took part in both festivals this year.

The following are the senior biographies taken from this year’s program:

Genna Carmichael: Genna has been in Chorus since fourth grade. She has been very active with the Red and Black Player stage crew since 7th grade and was Stage Manager for the last four productions. She played volleyball and is on the Yearbook staff. Her first chorus concert is one of her favorite memories. Genna will be joining the workforce after graduation. She would like to thank Mrs. Cordes and Mrs. Davison for everything they have taught her.

Hailey Denis: Hailey has been in Chorus since fourth grade and joined band in fifth. She was selected to MS All-County Chorus, participated in NYSSMA and took piano class with Mrs. Cordes. She has played volleyball since 7th grade and played softball, too. Memories of her time with the music department include her mom attending almost every one of her concerts. Also, she has always appreciated that the warm ups stay the same every year (ex:”One bottle of pop…”). Hailey would like to go to North Country CC for Criminal Justice. She’d like to thank her parents for trying their best to help her succeed. And especially her grandparents and Uncle Josh for giving her the world when she asks.

Olivia Ellis: Olivia has been in band since fourth grade and is currently President of the Music Department. She has performed in multiple plays and one musical, Footloose. She was captain of the soccer team, involved in outdoor/indoor track and field, basketball, volleyball, and cross country. She is also the newly-crowned section X Pentathlon Champion! Olivia is co-president of the Green Team and the treasurer of both National Honor Society and the Senior Class. She will be attending the University of New England in Maine to study Marine Affairs. A favorite musical memory is playing her first-ever Community Concert. Olivia would like to thank her Grandma and Grandpa, along with her Mom and Dad for always encouraging her.

Meika Nadeau: Meika has been in chorus for 8 years and band for 7. She is currently the secretary/treasurer of the music department and president of the Red and Black Players. She has been involved in musicals since 5th grade and has performed at NYSSMA, All-County, Area All-State and Trills and Thrills. Active in sports, she has competed in varsity cross country, varsity soccer, indoor and outdoor track and field. She is a member of the Green Team, National Honor Society and is a Senior Class officer. A favorite memory is seeing the Blue Man Group in New York City on the music department trip. Meika will be attending St. Lawrence University in the fall to major in biology to pursue optometry. She would like to thank her family and friends for always supporting her, and Mrs Cordes and Mrs Davison.

Emily Roberts: Emily has been in Chorus since eighth grade and is currently vice president of the music department. She has also been involved in several musicals including Aladdin Jr. Guys and Dolls, Into the Woods., and Seussical. In addition, she played varsity volleyball. A favorite musical memory is going to Area All-State and meeting new people. Emily will be attending SUNY Potsdam in the fall, majoring in Early Childhood Education. She would like to thank her mom and grandma.

Olivia Tallman: Olivia has been in chorus for six years. In addition, she played soccer, golf, and basketball, involved in art club, and is on the yearbook staff. A favorite memory is her first solo in middle school. Olivia plans to join the workforce after graduation as a home health aid. She’d like to thank Mrs. Quonce, her mom and Mr. Bennett.

Sierra Welch: Sierra has been in both and chorus for seven years. In addition to the music department, she is also involved in figure skating and volleyball. In her spare time she enjoys painting and drawing. In the future, Sierra plans to study Marine Biology and Geology. She’d like to thank her mom, dad, and boyfriend Kaiden.

Jamin Whitmore: Jamin has been in both chorus and band since fourth grade. He was captain of both the football and hockey teams, played baseball and ran track. He is president of both the senior class and National Honor Society and a member of boy scouts. A memory he’d like to share is how difficult it was getting through band and chorus during COVID and even recording songs virtually. Jamin will be attending Clarkson to become an aerospace engineer. He’d like to thank his parents, who were his main support in music.