Artist in Residence - Online Video

You can now watch the musical numbers performed during the evening HERE.

Dressed in a Hopewell Marching Band uniform, Jimmie Ross entered the auditorium giving high fives and shaking the hands of the audience members as he made his way to the stage. Not only is Jimmie Ross the lead singer of the Jaggerz and this year’s Artist in Residence, but he is also a past graduate of Hopewell. Mr. Ross is the ninth professional musician to participate in Hopewell’s Artist in Residence program.


The program was first envisioned when a musician from the community, who was working with the pit orchestra for the musical, noticed the high level of talent, enthusiasm, and professionalism of the Hopewell band students. The intent of the program was to encourage the arts within the school and give the students the opportunity to learn from, and perform with, various professional musicians.

Dave Bufalini, the current School Board President, took on the responsibility of organizing the event with two main goals. One, provide the students and community with the experience of meeting and working with professional musicians and two, break even financially. However, to his, and many others’ surprise, over $24,000 has been raised throughout the nine years of successfully running the event. This money has been donated to purchase instruments and other band equipment for the students of Hopewell. At one point in the performance Mr. Bufalini had students bring out an example of a variety of different instruments that had been purchased using the proceedings of the Artist in Residence.

 

 

The evening started out with the Junior High Jazz Band performing three pieces. At the conclusion of their songs, a video, highlighting the life of Jimmie Ross, was shown. After the video, Jimmie made his grand entrance to perform with the High School Jazz band. Throughout the night Mr. Bufalini took time to spotlight the success of the program and the contributions that had been made to the school. Two of these contributions included a guitar signed by Jimmie Ross and a portrait of Mr. Vince Pascarelli. Both of which will at one point hang within the walls of the high school. The evening was wrapped up with an incredible performance by the Jaggerz.

 


 

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