Upper School Chorus Performs in The Schiff Center

For the first time in two school years, the Upper School men’s, women’s, and full chorus performed the spring concert in The Schiff Center in mid-May. Choral director Tina Kuhlman applauded the chorus for their efforts, despite extensive safety protocols, including frequent breaks, social distancing, and training to enunciate through masks. The students sang nine musical selections, including “Umi Sono” by Dan Kousaku, “Taylor the Latte Boy” by Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich, and Irish folk song, “Parting Glass,” which, as part of Seven Hills tradition, was sung by the seniors at the end of the program. Kuhlman closed the concert with a photo slideshow presentation, celebrating the seniors and sharing inspirational words. She described the hard work and dedication of the musicians this year, saying that this unusual year has been about “finding community and sharing the experience of making music together.” Congratulations to all choral members, Kuhlman and accompanist Lynne Miller, and a special thanks to graduating senior choral members Daniel Goldfeder, Audrey Howard, John Humphrey, Elizabeth Johnston, Will Kohnen, Nandini Likki, Hana Mahmoud, Luke Malloy, Anya Moeller, Joe Moses, Lilly Rubenstein, and Riyah Vaughn. Click here to view the concert program.

Click here to view a photo of the Upper School Choral Concert.

Upper School Symphonic and Contemporary Ensembles Hold Concert in The Schiff Center

The Upper School Symphonic and Contemporary Ensembles also performed their spring concert on The Schiff Center stage. The ensembles prerecorded their winter concerts and shared them on YouTube. Before the performance, Rising said musicians “stepped up like never before” during a year marked by COVID-19 safety restrictions. Rising also recognized the ensembles’ graduating seniors, including Dhruv Mahajan, Reva Namboodiri, Andrew Yang, Wes Gardner, Kurt Drath, Aaron Ziegler, and Matt Coulson. “This group has been the core,” Rising said. “I can count on all of you to bring energy, musicianship, and personality to rehearsals.” The symphonic ensemble opened the show with a mix of songs including “Shadow Cove March,” the Irish folk song, “Down by the Salley Gardens,” and “Highlights from Dr. Who.” The contemporary ensemble then lit up the stage with “Greasy Sack Blues,” the Beatles’ classic, “Here Comes the Sun,” and John Legend’s “Feeling Good,” with vocals provided by junior Gabrielle Christmon. Congratulations to our Upper School ensembles on an amazing show! Click here to read the concert program.

Click here to see more photos from the concert.

Middle School Chorus Performs in The Schiff Center

Seven Hills’ Middle School chorus delivered a beautiful performance in The Schiff Center in mid-May. Navigating social distancing protocols that required the students to enunciate through masks and sing through the same program twice to two separate audiences, the vocalists performed beautifully! The students collectively sang 16 selections, ranging from “Cantate!” by Emily Crocker to jazz standard, “Beyond the Sea,” ending with a rousing rendition of “Let the River Run” by Carly Simon. Congratulations to our students, Choral director Tina Kuhlman, accompanist Lynne Miller, and technical director Trey Tatum for a wonderful show. Click here to view the concert program.

Click here to view photos from the Middle School Chorus.

Middle Schoolers Perform “An Afternoon of Instrumental Music”

The Middle School’s sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade ensembles recently performed their Spring Concert on The Schiff Center stage. The live, socially distanced performance was the first for the young performers this school year. Instrumental music teacher John Rising said the performance was “more historic” than the very first instrumental concerts held when The Schiff Center opened in spring 2019. Rising commended the students for their hard work and growth throughout the year. “The kids have had to be more resilient than ever,” Rising said. The sixth-graders opened the show with  “Sword Dance,” pop hit “Happy,” and “Basin Street Blues.” The seventh-graders then took the stage, performing the popular “Pirates of the Carribbean” theme, as well as “Havana” and “Seven Nation Army.” The eighth-graders closed the afternoon with the groovy “Feel it Still,” “House of the Rising Sun,” and “Africa.” Congratulations to the Middle School musicians for their wonderful performances! Click here to read the concert program.

Click here to see more photos from the concert.

Metal Pouring in Upper School Art

Students in Daniel Vance’s sculpting class recently used the elemental metal bismuth to craft structures. The metal pouring process—something new to the curriculum—involved a meticulous set of steps that engaged the students in a close study of metal arts, without the necessity of a foundry. Starting with a lump of clay, the students formed objects, such as dolphins or turtles, using clay tools to sculpt the medium. Next, the students fired their objects in the kiln to make the structure solid. Once out of the kiln, students prepared a flask, which is a small box filled with casting sand. The students then pressed their fired objects into the flask, which compacted the sand. After removing the fired object, students then poured bismuth into the cavity made by the mold. Vance said the process was possible because bismuth is one of few metals that melts at a low temperature—about 520 degrees. “Bismuth is fun to work with and it is similar to crystal,” said Vance. “It is not very common and it isn’t toxic, so it is also very safe. The project is helpful for them because it helps the students to better understand positive and negative space. Students also learn about casting flaws and how to prevent them.”