On May 11, 2012, Children in Need members who graduated from Saint Mark’s School held a concert and reception for the eSicabazini Girl’s Scholarship Program. Held at the Saint Mark’s gym, the concert had a very good turnout, ranging from alumni, to parents and teachers. With the help of Saint Mark’s Director of Special Programs, Jenny Getz, the concert is considered a big success. It brought in over $3,000 for the Girl’s Scholarship Program.

The concert started off with Gaby Berbey delivering a speech to provide information about the club, its cause, and the drive of the alumni to go back to their roots and help through their music. The first performer, Caitlin Gowdy, a graduate of 2008, played her wonderful interpretation of all five movements of Pablo de Saraste’s Carmen Fantasy. Saint Mark’s fourth graders Hunter Hulsebus and Jacob Hershman, were the special guests of the evening and performed their piano and violin pieces at very high levels. Matthew Speigel, class of 2010, then directed the theme of the performance from classical to jazz with F.W. Ferling’s Study in D Minor. This is Matthew’s last performance until he gets back from London where he will spend his third year in high school. After Matthew’s lively performance of the Study, Tyler Leswing, class of 2010, impressed the crowd with his very own unique composition entitled Shining Darkness. As usual, we enjoyed Tyler’s distinctive style and original work. Gaby Berbey, also class of 2010, took the stage with her passionate interpretation of the Bruch Violin Concerto’s 2nd movement. Everyone truly enjoyed her soulful performance. Following Gaby’s Bruch violin concerto was Toki Migimatsu, class of 2008, playing Liszt’s Transcendental Etude No.10. Again, he managed to amaze the crowd with his impeccable technical and musical talent. Hayaka Komatsu, class of 2009, concluded the performance with her beautiful rendition of Weiniawski’s Concerto No.2 in D minor Op. 22 3rd movement.

Having the alumni perform not only allowed the student musicians to reconnect with the Saint Mark’s community, but it also gave them a chance to be student models and to give back to the community which provided them with endless care and support throughout their middle school years.

Related photos: http://www.childreninneedclub.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=13416673.