Could there be any greater retirement gift for a music teacher than this?**
Here is the final medley from Wednesday’s Jazz Night surprise for John Schumacher, who is calling it a career after 29 years teaching at Morristown High and the Frelinghuysen Middle School.
Former students dusted off their horns and, despite very little rehearsal time, blew the roof off the MHS auditorium and moistened quite a few eyeballs.
Justin Sobers, MHS ’99, put together the arrangement and conducted the band.
Derek Vintschger, ’99, who orchestrated the evening with MHS band director Doug Rutan, said the gig inspired three grads in the alumni group to revisit their instruments for the first time in more than a decade.
Between Grammy-nominated organist John Ginty, who performed at the first Jazz Night a quarter-century ago, and 2013 MHS grad Annabel Walter on trumpet, the band covered the full range of Jazz Nights–a tradition started by Schumacher and Rutan.
**Well, students did mention Schu’s hankering for a Porsche. But he’ll get better mileage from Wednesday’s memories.
THE MHS ALUMNI ALL-STAR TRIBUTE BAND:
Drums – Camille Olivier ’02
Bass – Jake Miller-Hoesly ’04
Guitar – JP Gilbert ’01
Piano – Devone Allison ’02
Organ – John Ginty ’90
Alto & Soprano Sax – Mike Brown ’97
Alto Sax – Artie Ayres ’00
Alto Sax & Flute – Steve Voelker – Frelinghuysen Band Director
Tenor Sax & Flute – David Gallagher ’10
Tenor Sax – Ryan Gallagher ’12
Baritone Sax – Nika Belcastro ’01
Trumpet – Danny Reardon ’12
Trumpet – Casey Carroll ’10
Trumpet – Skip Yingling ’02
Trumpet – Jason Berlinsky ’10
Trumpet – Annabel Walter ’13
Trumpet – Brian Lenat ’02
Trombone – Mike Santoro ’10
Trombone – Craig Perkins ’10
Trombone – Mike Renga ’10
Trombone – Mark Bishop ’02
Trombone – Doug Rutan – MHS Band Director
Arrangements – H. Justin Sobers ’99
Recording – Derek Vintschger ’99
Recording – Lee Bender ’03
