Heights High spring concert season highlights senior soloists

This year's Heights High senior soloists are Josh Perelman-Hall on tenor sax and Ben Sperl on double bass.

The Cleveland Heights High Instrumental School Music Department (IMD) spring concert series includes eagerly awaited performances by senior soloists, a tradition that started in 1929. Ben Sperl and Josh Perelman-Hall showcase the breadth and depth of the music program at Heights High. Both are experienced musicians. 

On Friday, May 2, double bassist Ben Sperl will perform “Fantasy on Themes from La Sonnambula” by Giovanni Bottesini. He will be accompanied by the string section of the Heights High Symphony, under the direction of Daniel Heim.

“[Fantasy] is probably one of the most challenging pieces for bass,” said Sperl. He selected the piece because “it’s flashy and fun, and really melodic and singing with lots of fast notes.”

This very romantic work was composed on themes from Vincenzo Bellini’s opera "La Sonnambula," which means “the sleepwalker.” Bottesini, a 19th-century double bass virtuoso, embellishes four distinct themes from the opera in the solo part.

Also on May 2, jazz tenor saxophonist Josh Perelman-Hall will perform Jimmy Van Heusen’s “But Beautiful,” arranged by Bill Holman for big band. He will be accompanied by the Heights High Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Brett Baker.

Perelman-Hall considered several pieces before deciding on the Holman arrangement. “I thought it was pretty cool how Holman took what is normally a long, slow ballad and made it a medium-up jazz waltz,” he said. “Holman lets the tenor sax carry the melody throughout the whole piece.” The work also appealed to him because it offers the challenge of a large segment where he will improvise a solo with the backing of the rhythm section.

Sperl and Perelman-Hall have been working on their solos with private instructors since early autumn.

As the spring semester unfolds, a collaborative process gets underway. Soloists discuss the composition with IMD directors Daniel Heim and Brett Baker, and begin rehearsing the student ensembles. At this stage, private instructors are invited to make comments during rehearsals.

Both soloists play multiple instruments and are involved in many musical activities at Heights, as well as throughout Cleveland’s performance community. Sperl and Perelman-Hall both have played with several jazz combos.

At Heights, Sperl performs with Symphony and Jazz Ensemble. Although classical piano was his first instrument, he has recently begun to study jazz piano in earnest. Since freshman year, he has been a member of the Church of the Savior Praise Band. In addition, for two years he was a member of the bass section of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra.

Perelman-Hall performs at Heights High with the Symphonic Winds and Jazz Ensemble. He is also a member of the award-winning Heights Barbershoppers.

The May 2 concert also includes performances by Cleveland Heights High Symphony and Symphonic Winds.

The spring concert season includes a concert on Wednesday, April 30, and concludes with the annual Jazz Nite on Friday, May 9, featuring the Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo.

Chamber Ensemble performances will precede the concerts on April 30 and May 2, from 6:30–7 p.m. in the Heights High Social Room.

Chamber groups range in size from two to six musicians. The students select their own repertoire and are coached by professional musicians throughout the school year. Music selections include both classical and contemporary compositions.

All concerts take place at the Cleveland Heights High School Dina Rees Evans Performing Arts Center. The April 30 and May 2 concerts begin at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $3 for students and $5 for adults. Jazz Nite on May 9 begins at 7 p.m. Tickets for Jazz Nite are $5. Tickets for all concerts are available the day of the show. For more information, go to www.chuh.org/schools/chhs/about/instrumental-music or call 216-320-3112.