The stage lights were familiar, as was the rattle and hum of the amplifiers when the young musicians stepped up to face the crowd at Locals 10538 in Larchmont Sunday evening (June 22). The tension in the air didn’t come from the venue or the audience packed with friends and family; it came with the knowledge that this was a final run-through before an actual overseas tour.
The next audience they’ll face will be residents of Chile who know the music, may not know English, and definitely don’t know them: a moment of truth for 12 area teens chosen as “cream of the crop” among students at Mamaroneck’s School of Rock.
The tour will bring the band members ranging in age from 13 to 18 to a series of gigs in and around Santiago, Chile to play for local audiences and perform with some of their Chilean counterparts. It is a goodwill tour and a “proof of concept” for the music instruction method that combines private lessons with band rehearsals and performances.
Our local School of Rock has been up and running for 11 years and the concept has also taken root in other countries. The tour is to show neighbors to the south just how effective the music education system has worked in “el norte” and to push the young musicians to new levels of excellence.
The 12 musicians all passed auditions and view playing among like-minded foreigners as a chance at growth. Drummer Kasper Ridder calls it a treat and a challenge.
“Being with people who share the same passion for music” is one real advantage, he says “you see some kids who are miles ahead and it inspires you to step up the performance.” 14 year-old singer Anayna Parsad says the change of scenery is intimidating. “Stage fright is real” she notes but predicts “it really goes away once the show starts.”
There was no sign of nerves at the launch. Luke Shenk cut through the air with blistering opening guitar riff of Rush’s “The Spirit of Radio” and from that moment on, the young rockers never looked back with various combinations of players on stage for each number. The group knows 55 classic rock songs and expects to play, perhaps, 30 of them during the Chilean tour.
Parents are ecstatic. Dorothee Mountafis of Mamaroneck watched her 16 year-old daughter Penelope sing lead on one number then switch to bass guitar moments later. “It’s like being a groupie for your own kid’s band,” she said.
Elena Bright of Bronxville marvels as her son, Sam, applies his early childhood music lessons to this full-blown rock experience.
“It matches his personality,” she admits. Kind of like a rock star, we asked? Glancing at the stage toward the sound of the guitar she paused briefly. “Yeah, sometimes,” she said wistfully. They DO grow up.
The group leaves for South America Tuesday (June 24)