Big Band and Swing Highlight This Year's Annual Spring Concert

Another milestone is about to be reached this Centennial year. This week, the Regis Band and Chorus will host its 25th Annual Spring Concert. As has been the case for a quarter of a century, the concert is directed and produced by longtime faculty member Mr. Jim Phillips.

This year, the Spring Concert show is titled "Singin' with the Big Bands", and is a celebration of Swing. There are 35 student members of the band and 42 student members of the chorus. These members include participating students from Dominican Academy, Marymount, Hunter, and St. Vincent Ferrer. Ms. Karin Miller Lewis, Fine Arts faculty member, and Mr. José Machuca, Computer Science faculty member, have designed and created a set and costumes that will put all in attendance in the mood for swing.

Despite the challenges presented by recent weather, this group of talented musicians and singers has done some extraordinary work to pull this production together. "We began rehearsing immediately after the Regis Repertory's Spamalot performance finished in December," said Mr. Jim Phillips. "There have been countless hours of practice put in by every musician, dancer, and singer."

Phillips, in his 30th year teaching at Regis, was the recipient of the Patricia Hannon Ignatian Educator Award this past Fall. Named in honor of the late Mrs. Patricia Hannon, longtime faculty member at Regis, the award recognizes a faculty member whose dedication to his or her students fosters a learning environment that is a the model of Ignatian pedagogy.

"The evening, like the music itself, should be dedicated to pure enjoyment, for performers and audience alike." said Phillips.

The 25th Annual Spring Concert will be presented by the Regis Band and Chorus on March 7 and 8 at 7:30pm. An additional matinee performance will be presented on Saturday afternoon at 2:30pm. Tickets are available for purchase online.

Above: Members of last year's orchestra performing at the Spring Concert.

Above: Students performing at last year's Spring Concert. This year, the Spring Concert show is titled "Singin' with the Big Bands", and is a celebration of Swing.