But Dr. Myron Leshowitz, the supervisor of music for the North Bergen district, wanted to do something a little different in order to establish a music scholarship for a graduating senior from North Bergen High School.
"We've been talking about having a faculty concert for the last couple of years," Leshowitz said. "We wanted to raise money to sponsor a music scholarship and figured that a faculty concert would be the best way. It's more than showing off. It's providing a good example to the students. It shows the students that we all do practice our musical talents and love performing."
Tuesday night, the North Bergen Public Schools Music Department will proudly present the first-ever Faculty Music Recital, beginning at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.
While admission to the concert is free, there will be the opportunity for concertgoers to make donations to benefit the dream of creating a music scholarship for a deserving graduate of this year's North Bergen High School Class of 2007.
Rallying support
Leshowitz said that he sent out letters to all of the district's music teachers in September to see if there was interest in doing the concert.
"Our teachers are really giving of their time," Leshowitz said. "I was really impressed with the dedication of our teachers. I'm very appreciative of the ones who have volunteered their time to perform."
One of the featured performers will be Dr. Leshowitz himself, who is an accomplished pianist.
"Whenever someone needs an accompanist, I'm usually the one who gets asked," Leshowitz said. "So I play a lot, but not usually on stage. So I am thrilled about this performance. I feel like a student all over again."
Leshowitz said that he will play a classical piece by Chopin, as well as a ragtime piece.
McKinley School music teacher Mike Modero was all set to play his trombone for the concert, but he was rushed into the hospital recently to have quadruple bypass heart surgery and will miss the performance.
However, pre-kindergarten teacher Heidi Peterson will play the clarinet and will accompany Kennedy School music teacher Vanessa Bonaccorso in a duet.
Horace Mann teacher Leslie Bruce will sing a solo, as well as North Bergen High School choir director Jennifer Penton and Fulton School teacher Angela Tabbacchino.
For Tabbachino, it's a return to glory, because the last time she performed on the North Bergen High School stage, she was a student in the school in 1974, singing "Stairway to Heaven."
This time, Tabbacchino will sing Gershwin classics "Summer Time," and "I've Got a Crush on You."
"I think it's great that we can give this kind of performance for the students and the community," said Tabbacchino, who has been teaching in the North Bergen school district for 28 years. "It should be interesting. It's a great cause to raise money for a scholarship."
Tabbacchino was asked if she was a bit nervous or excited in performing in the show.
"I think it's a little bit of both nervousness and excitement," Tabbacchino said. "It really hasn't hit me yet and probably won't until I'm up there. I should be used to it, but I'll still have a bit of the butterflies when it's time to go on."
Ivan Miller, who goes from school to school in North Bergen teaching music, will perform two trumpet solos. Miller still performs regularly with an assortment of bands and orchestras.
"But the kids don't ever get a chance to hear me play in concert," Miller said. "So this will be different. I will be looking forward to seeing the students come and hear us play, hear me play."
Miller said that he will perform two pieces, "Portrait of a Trumpet," and "Maid of the Mist."
"It's giving the students the opportunity to hear us, as well as the other teachers," Miller said.
Marching band director and high school music teacher George Haviland will play the guitar. Interestingly, it was Haviland who played the guitar for Tabbacchino's vocals on the North Bergen High stage for a Led Zeppelin recreation. This time, Haviland will play the classical Prelude No. 1 by Villa Lobos. Jimmy Page and Robert Plant can rest easy.
"I'm looking forward to performing so I can show my students I actually can play," Haviland said. "I'm the only guitar player performing, so the pressure's on. But I'm excited about it. We're hoping to get a nice turnout and hopefully we can collect some good funds."
Haviland said that if this year's concert is a success that they will extend the concert next year to the general teachers in the district who play musical instruments.
"We have a lot of talented teachers who play and I'm going to suggest that we include them for next year," Haviland said. "This was the first one. This was step one."
Haviland said that the students have been giving him some healthy ribbing as the concert approaches.
"They're pretty excited about seeing us up there," Haviland said. "I think they're looking forward to it as much as we are."
Jim Hague can be reached via e-mail at either OGSMAR@aol.com or jhague@hudsonreporter.com
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