On January 12, orchestra director Netta Hadari presented a concert with Loomis Chaffee faculty in Hubbard Auditorium. This concert showcased eight faculty musicians whose performances ranged from pieces from the Romantic era to original songs.
“Ms. Soja has charged us with building a stronger community, and I wanted to take that to heart,” Mr. Hadari said. “As a boarding school community, students get to see us in many contexts, and I wanted the community to see my colleagues in a musical context as well.”
For the music faculty, the community musician concert was an incredible opportunity to collaborate and to go deeper into their craft. Music played a huge role in all of their lives. Mr. Hadari grew up in a musical family, received classical training, and now teaches a variety of music courses at Loomis while composing and performing with his band Soul Afire. Performing Arts Department Head and Choral Director Susan Chrzanowski studied music education in college and has been a choir conductor and a music educator for more than 33 years. Music faculty Tamila Azadaliyeva started playing the piano at age seven, trained classically in Uzbekistan, earned her masters at the Hartt School of Music, and has taught Loomis in 2009.
Even though Ms. Azadaliyeva had performed with Mr. Hadari and Ms. Chrzanowski separately, this concert marked the first time the three of them had performed as a trio, with Mr. Hadari on viola, Ms. Azadaliyeva on piano, and Ms. Chrzanowski singing mezzo-soprano. “Making music together in this setting was truly special,” Ms. Azadaliyeva reflected. “I enjoyed every moment of the collaboration and sincerely hope to repeat the experience.”
Ms. Chrzanowski focused especially on the lyrics to prepare for the concert. “The poems were especially meaningful, presenting a pondering of the existential aspects of the human experience. I spent a good deal of time studying the poems and working to portray in my voice how the poems related to both the melody and to the viola and piano parts,” she said. The result was a beautiful intertwining of words and melodies.
For some faculty members, the concert was their debut in Hubbard auditorium after years of experience. Academic Dean and English faculty Tim Lawrence played the violin since age seven, developed a love for traditional music while studying in Ireland, and has since played in bluegrass bands and with fellow faculty members.
Science and Mathematics faculty Grant Gritzmacher started playing guitar at 12 years old, started the band Firetown Road in 2020, and has performed with Mr. Lawrence on multiple occasions.
“For years I have enjoyed playing with faculty colleagues, particularly Mr. Morrell and Mr. Gritzmacher, and we try to play every other Thursday evening in my music room in Howe,” Mr. Lawrence said. “Mr. Gritzmacher is a terrific composer; his songs are great storytelling in tandem with interesting and challenging chord structures. I love improvising on his songs and playing music with him.”
“It always feels like a bit of a risk performing original songs,” Mr. Gritzmacher commented. “When they are graciously received by viewers, it feels affirming and rewarding. I’m glad we were invited to participate!”
Visual Arts faculty Mark Zunino is a self-taught guitarist who has played for 35 years. He takes inspiration from all the music he listens to.
Mr. Zunino initially felt anxious about performing his music in front of a live audience, but with support from his colleagues, he stepped up to the stage. “At Loomis Chaffee, we, the old people, also known as teachers, are reminded that we must encourage our students to ‘lean into discomfort,’” he remarked. “I believe in that sentiment whole heartedly, but I would not feel genuine in suggesting this to the students moving forward, if I, myself, were not able to lean into it myself.”
It was inspiring indeed to see the faculty take risks and show up as their whole selves in this concert. “I hope that students will come away inspired by the variety of music that there is on campus, be provoked by some new music, and to have their minds and hearts opened to beautiful music and beautiful camaraderie between humans,” Mr. Hadari shared. “I also hope that they managed to take a few minutes away to just be with their friends and be in community with live music.”
Luckily, we may look forward to similar concerts in the future. “I hope that we might undertake this type of project again and feature even more members of the community,” Ms. Chrzanowski said.
