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Broadway Composers Write Piece For Hoff-Barthelson's Jazz Ensemble

SCARSDALE, N.Y. -- The light bulb in Ed Palermo’s head lit up when he learned a new employee at Hoff-Barthelson Music School in Scarsdale was the sister of Tom Kitt, a Pulitzer Prize and Tony award winning composer.

Tony award-winning composers Tom Kitt, left,, and Brian Yorkey wrote a piece that will be played in two concerts by the Hoff-Barthelson Advanced Jazz Ensemble. Hoff-Barthelson is based in Scarsdale.

Tony award-winning composers Tom Kitt, left,, and Brian Yorkey wrote a piece that will be played in two concerts by the Hoff-Barthelson Advanced Jazz Ensemble. Hoff-Barthelson is based in Scarsdale.

Photo Credit: Contributed
The Hoff-Barthelson Advanced Jazz Ensemble is comprised of 13 students in grades 8-12.

The Hoff-Barthelson Advanced Jazz Ensemble is comprised of 13 students in grades 8-12.

Photo Credit: Contributed

Palermo, the Jazz Department coordinator for Hoff-Barthelson, has had previous jazz composers author pieces for the school’s Advanced Jazz Ensemble. He asked Kitt’s sister if the composer and Brian Yorkey, his award-winning colleague, might also be interested in composing a piece for the young musicians.

“She was totally into it,’’ Palermo said. “We’ve done two previous shows with people I used to jam with 30 years ago, before they were jazz greats. We feel fortunate to get some Broadway greats for this year’s show.”

The school’s Advanced Jazz Ensemble will present the premiere of Kitt and Yorkey’s, “I Call That Home,” at two performances. The first is Monday, May 11, during the Jazz A To Z performance as part of the school’s Music of Our Time Festival. The free concert begins at 8 p.m. at the school, located at 25 School Lane in Scarsdale.

The piece will be repeated on Sunday, May 17 at 7 p.m. at the final concert of the Music of Our Time Festival, at the Community Unitarian Church, 468 Rosedale Ave., White Plains. There is a small admission charge for this concert, which will feature the school’s Festival Orchestra and a student ensemble in another world premier piece, this one by composer Ray Lustig.

Hoff-Barthelson’s Advanced Jazz Ensemble previously premiered compositions written for it by international jazz greats pianist Ted Rosenthal and baritone horn player Gary Smulyan.

Kitt and Yorkey were represented on Broadway this season by the musical "If/Then" featuring Idina Menzel. The musical was nominated for a 2014 Tony Award for Best Score. The team is currently at work on a musical version of the movie Freaky Friday.

“The kids are excited.” Palermo said. “They’re excited because they like playing new and challenging music.”

The ensemble group is comprised of 13 students ranging from grades 8-12. They have practiced as a group once a week, and spent countless hours on their own with the piece.

“They get the same feeling of self-worth that any student gets when they are disciplined and complete an assignment from start to finish,’’ Palermo said. “Their passion is music. I think it’s the same thing as if they were classical musicians practicing hard on a sonata and they got that to perfection.”

Palermo said his young musicians are ready for their performances. He promises concertgoers will be impressed by their talent.

“They’re doing great with it,’’ Palermo said. “I can’t wait to do the concert. They sound fantastic. People are always blown away when they listen to it.”

For more information about the concerts, visit the Hoff-Barthelson Music School website or call 914-723-1169.

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