Dear Alumni,
When certain vibrations created are played or sung together, they create difference or combination tones; two voices can sound like three or more. I have said many times in this past year that what I miss most about making music in the schoolhouse at A-S is the vibrational quality of what happens when we create music together. The synchronicity, the overtones, the electricity of performing live can never be replaced by what we do on Zoom.
When Covid-19 made itself known last March, we were ready for the opening night of our Gilbert & Sullivan production of Pirates of Penzance. We were lucky enough to perform that evening for the teachers in the building and livestream it to our A-S community far and wide. It was a spirited, wonderful performance that we now add to our archives. How many of you have memories of playing a role in Pirates? Where are our Pirate Kings of past performances? Our Ruths? How many maidens are amongst you?
After that performance, we left for Spring Break, and everything in our department came to an abrupt halt. We had to redesign and rethink everything we do, from how we teach our littlest Unicorns up to our graduating scholars. Lower School Music Teacher, Mr. Taggart redesigned his LS music classes, Ms. Meir, School Pianist, made recording after recording for us to practice and perform with and tirelessly edited, with help from Mr. Spain, our virtual performances. Everything was virtual - Mr. America, all of our classes, concerts, lessons, recitals, closing exercises, Morning Meetings - everything.
But, as our talented Theatre and Technical Director, Ms. Julie Robles said – the show must go online. And so, we rethought and redesigned and have successfully kept the boys singing and playing this year, coming to rehearsals online. It warms my heart to see them hungry to sing, enough so that they show up before school, after school, and even Saturday mornings to sing with one another. Only our string program has been able to meet in person in the schoolhouse with Ms. Claire Schlegel, our Director of Instrumental Music. Still, the music continues.
The thought has occurred to me several times this year that it is most ironic that this year’s G&S production is Patience, something that we have all been called upon to muster up as we await our return to sing together in person.
I am convinced that post-Covid we will be hungrier than ever for live concerts and performances and grateful for the rehearsals together to make art, be part of something bigger than ourselves and continue, together, put beauty into the world.
All the best,
Michelle Demko
Head of the Music Department
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Creating The School Song in Spanish!
We're looking for your help to create a Spanish version of The A-S School Song! We will use this video for community times and other school gatherings, or even on social media.
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A Message from the Head of School
Click here to read a message from Head of School David Trower h'95 about looking ahead to Allen-Stevenson's future.
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Celebrating Middle School Head,
Kim Kyte!
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Middle School Head Kim Kyte is retiring at the end of this school year. She will be truly missed and we want to say thank you for her 40 years of teaching boys at Allen-Stevenson. We are creating a memory book, incorporating quotes from students, faculty, staff, parents and alumni to help send her off in style with our deep appreciation for all she has done for the A-S community.
If you would like to include a quote or memory in this book, please email your message to
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The North Gym is Open!
We're thrilled to announce the opening of the new north gym!
Click the video for a peek at different age boys enjoying this spectacular space.
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3rd Grade String Ensemble
Plays Together
Our Third Grade Ensemble started in-person at 78th Street this week! Third Grade kicks off our boys’ musical journey playing in orchestras at A-S. Group settings provide a great opportunity for our boys to not only play their instruments with their friends, but also to learn how to play as a cohesive whole, develop listening skills, and improve upon the skills taught in their instrumental lessons.
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Our students across all grades have continued to excel in Academics, Arts and Athletics. Take a look below to see what our students have been learning this year! |
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First-grade students are learning to count with candy. They used Skittles to create visual representations of arithmetic operations. These colorful candies were perfect for sorting items into groups by color. |
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Fifth graders wrote, directed, and starred in historical video shorts describing a day in the life of a Mayan, Incan, or Aztec person. They designed costumes and virtual backgrounds, and researched the geography, culture, economics, military, government, and social structure.
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Señorita Spielberg’s Eighth Grade Advisory wrote goals for the new year using music as a means of motivation! Boys considered what songs motivate or inspire them and connected these tracks to a goal. |
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Pete Conlon '87 has created graphics packages and motion graphics for a variety of television specials, including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion and the most recent Whitney Cummings Stand-up special.
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Luis Ubinas '78 was recently named the Board Chairman of The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation. Congratulations, Luis!
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Damian VanCamp '00 is an architectural lighting designer with Kugler Ning Lighting Design. One of his recent projects includes Fotografiska NYC. Click here to take a look!
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Obituaries
We regret to say that F. Richards Ford, III '42 passed away in January, 2021. He will be missed for his kindness, generosity and charm.
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Calling all A-S Alumni Photographers, Poets, Writers, Artists and Musicians!
The 2021 Edition of the A-Z Files , Allen-Stevenson’s annual creativity journal, is set to launch this summer and we would appreciate your participation. Feel free to submit any creative work you have been producing. Past submissions include photographs, poems, short stories, excerpts from screenplays and various artwork. You can send original works to Kerim Eken '00 at [email protected].
See past publications here.
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Calling All Former and Current A-S College Athletes!
For our new 'Alumni Spotlights' section on the Allen-Stevenson website and in the Lamplighter, the Alumni Office is looking to interview A-S alumni who were/are student athletes in college for a school team or club team.
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Previous Blue & Gold Issues
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Support
Allen-Stevenson
Please consider a gift to Allen-Stevenson, which supports all areas of the School including financial aid, cutting-edge technology, the library, our athletics, music, and arts programs, and equity and inclusion initiatives.
Find us on Venmo: @allen-stevenson, or
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