Arts & Entertainment
The Beatles Meets Classical at Focus' Opening Night
An innovative musical blend offers something for everyone to kick off the 23rd Focus on the Arts.
surprised opening night attendees Monday by starting with a traditional approach and then going in a different direction entirely.
The event at 's (HPHS) auditorium included a string quartet performing Led Zeppelin, a classical piece with a hip-hop component and The Sound of Music as Rodgers and Hammerstein never imagined it.
“This whole idea to sort of shake-up music is a little bit of a stretch for us--for Focus--because we’ve never really done this before,” said Amy Greenebaum, the program's coordinator.
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The weeklong event that includes workshops and performances at the high school has been held since 1964.
A traditional string quartet and jazz ensemble of both professional musicians and HPHS students started the night off. The two groups were conducted by Francesco Milioto, co-founder of the New Millennium Orchestra and music director of the Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra.
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Milioto told the audience that music and art, while rooted in the past, constantly improvise their way into new arrangements.
"We’re going to show you that when you can break down music to melody, harmony and rhythm, you can take that music and do whatever you want with it in any style and any genre,” the conductor said.
To demonstrate, Milioto launched his ensemble into a collection of rock classics—"Heartbreaker" and "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin, "Beat It" by Michael Jackson and "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" by The Beatles.
He then led the ensemble in "The Toreador Song" from Carmen with an urban twist. The piece began with baritone Bill McMurray and ended in the key of hip-hop by Chicago native, Diverse.
“I wanted to do something with the kids,” Milioto said. “And I think that the public is the parents, so putting these things together has a huge impact.”
Act Two of opening night featured The Sound of Music performed by The Brooklyn Rundfunk Orkestrata (BRO). Originally the East Village Opera Company from New York, BRO followed the evening’s theme by performing songs like "Do Re Mi" to the melody of "ABC" by the Jackson 5 and "Climb Ev’ry Mountain" as a hip-hop manifesto.
Throughout the performances, students were highlighted for their artistic contributions. Three HPHS students were presented with scholarships for fine arts study, dance and photography. Twenty-eight students served as the leadership committee for Focus, driving the direction of this year’s show.
HPHS junior Jaye Hunt served on the media workshops committee and was inspired to get involved in Focus after experiencing the weeklong event as a freshman.
“I just loved all the artists I saw, and I wanted to make it happen,” she said. “I think it’s really cool because even kids that just do sports get really excited and there’s something for everyone."
Hunt said that students want to come to school during Focus--something she considers the best part of the experience.
“Art is like plugging in and you’re recharged,” said Highland Park resident Mark Paley, who attended the event with his wife, Susan. “It’s different than religion where it’s a purgative, this is more of a recharge. It’s not a let out; it’s a fill up.”
The Paleys have two students at HPHS, a freshman and a senior, and think Focus teaches them something important.
“It teaches them the great escape," Mark said. "It teaches them that life is not wars and business and money -- it's escape and joy and relax and just get free."
They also agreed, learning experience aside, the event was a blast.
“This is better than a night out," said Susan Paley.