Several decades ago, a jazz horn player from Philadelphia named Paul Silverman set Proctor music on an amazing path of excellence in instrument mastery, jazz, rock and recording. Today, that tradition is reaching new heights in the hands of Bill Wightman, who brought four of his ensembles to the Four Corners Grille in New London a few nights ago.
Bill knows that--in order to be a player in a real band--you have to play in public. The house was packed, and the bands played with real style. The photo above captures an incredibly talented group of ninth graders, (with one sophomore.) After their set, the performance ensemble took the stage, with a horn section worthy of any professional band.
I decided to join the band.
Then, the singers joined the band, and the crowd felt it was in Michael's Pub.
It just got better and better....
Music at Proctor expanded 100% when Kristofer Johnson joined the faculty to teach voice and choral ensembles.
Today, the performance choir is finishing preparation for its March tour of schools in Croatia and Bosnia Hertzigovina.
They will entertain audiences with songs in Croatian (modifying and improving as they learn!) and will enchant with classic, American folk music: a set of African-American spirituals.
This international theme leads me to Monday afternoon's "Taste Of the World" foodfest, organized by "Triple I" our multicultural student leadership group (with huge support from Marti Adams and the Student Activities Office.) The Community Center was packed.
We moved from station to station, noshing on paella, fried green plantain, beef stroganoff, tortilla Española, Swiss chocolate cakes and a smorgasbord of taste treats prepared by students and faculty. Kris served up pancakes with local (Proctor) maple syrup.
Annie and Amanda consider Gregor's extraordinary paella de mariscos.
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