Arts & Culture

Eliot Music Ensemble and Eliot Artists Bring “Blues Day” Performance to I AM Books!

I AM Books was packed on Wednesday, May 10th for a collaborative performance and exhibition featuring NEMPAC’s Eliot Music Ensemble as well as Eliot artists spanning from grades 1-4. The event, titled “Blues Day”, was planned by Eliot art teacher Rachel Rizzo and music teacher Stefano Marchese to give students a chance to present their artistry to the community.

The talented Eliot Music Ensemble took guests on a journey through the structure of Blues rhythm, explaining how blues was fundamental for other genres and styles. They performed pieces such as “Sweet Home Chicago”, “Hit the Road Jack”, and “Don’t Worry Be Happy”, inviting the audience to sing and snap along!

Between songs, Ms. Rizzo’s art students presented their pieces with a short artistic statements. 7 collages were selected by Ms. Rizzo for presentation, all of which were inspired by Romare Bearden, an artist made famous during the Harlem Renaissance who was inspired by his childhood memories and blues and jazz music. The students learned a lot about his work and called on their own memories to inspire their pieces.

Thank you Ms. Rizzo and Mr. M for a wonderful and educational event!