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From Panther Hall to Carnegie Hall

The Ranney School Performing Arts Department is proud to announce its upcoming Winter Concert Extravaganza to be held at the iconic Carnegie Hall in New York City on January 27, 2013. As Head of School, Dr. Lawrence S. Sykoff, Ed. D. welcomed the audience to the Ranney School’s Holiday Express Concert on Thursday, December 6, 2012, he revealed the exciting news to the crowd, stating, “Ranney School is going from Panther Hall to Carnegie Hall!”

The concert will feature performances from all divisions, including the Lower, Middle and Upper School Chorus and Orchestras, Lower School Band, Middle School Concert Band and Upper School Jazz Band. Music genres representing the rich curriculum will be performed ranging from classical, patriotic and contemporary music to pop, rock, jazz and Broadway show tunes. Performing arts plays a significant role in the comprehensive education offered at Ranney School. The general music curriculum serves Beginners (age 3) through ninth grade, with music theory, band, orchestra, chorus and dramas offered as elective options in grades 10 through 12. The school’s educational philosophy states that providing a strong foundation in performing arts will not only allow students to experience musical performance with greater understanding, but will also encourage young students to lead musically enriched lives.

Starting early as sixth grade, Ranney students successfully audition for competitive regional and divisional National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Middle School bands and orchestras. Several Ranney students have also been invited to work with MTI Broadway Jr.’s summer training program. This participation has led Ranney students to be honored with prestigious awards including being named Outstanding Award Winners at the Music in the Parks Music Festival and the Jr. Tri-M Music Honors Society winning “Chapter of the Year” and consistently maintaining a spot in the top-three rankings.

Upper School students have also achieved a great deal of success through their commitment and passion for performing arts. Their accomplishments include acceptances into the All-Shore, All-Regional and All-State Vocal and Instrumental Ensembles, National Association of Music Education award winners in opera and choral music, Count Basie Theater Awards nominees and winners, acceptances into Two River Theater Metro Scholar and Playback Program, consistent Forensic Award winners at Regional and State Tournaments and being named Gold Award Winners at the Heritage Music Festival. Performing Arts students have also been accepted into respected college music programs including Manhattan School of Music, NYU Clive Davis School of Music Production, Princeton Drama Program, Yale Music Program, NYU Steinhardt School of Music Industry and Drexel School of Music Industry.

Within the department are music educators who specialize in vocal and instrumental music as well as dramatic arts. Mrs. Lisa Geene, Mrs. Lillianne Torrente, and Mrs. Tess Nielsen are the general music and choral specialists in each division, providing the fundamental skills necessary to build upon. Dr. Dorothy Sobieski and Mr. Kevin Cotter are instrumental specialists in orchestral strings and concert instrumental music. Mr. John Doyle, Middle and Upper School Drama teacher, oversees the drama curriculum and advises on performing arts concert productions as well. Together, the performing arts faculty comprises a talented group of professional performers, authors, and sought-after presenters in their field.

Director of Performing Arts, Tess Nielsen, has played a significant role in the ongoing success of the Performing Arts Department and the development of the performance at Carnegie Hall. Whether she is conducting the Upper School chorus, serving as the Upper School Musical Director or advising the Tri-M® Music Honor Society, she is a constant presence for students, always there to support, encourage and inspire. “It’s a joy to be a part of a school community that has such a strong musical spirit,” said Mrs. Nielsen. “What a treat for us to be able to perform this year at Carnegie Hall.”

This memorable concert will include performances from more than 200 performing arts students from Ranney School on one of the world’s greatest stages for an audience of 500 Ranney families and guests. The performance will begin at 3 pm. For more information, please visit the Carnegie Hall page on the Ranney School website. You can also view our Performing Arts faculty members biographies.

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Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777
Our mission is to know and value every child, nurturing intellectual curiosity and confidence, and inspiring students to lead honorably, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society. 

We envision Ranney School as a nurturing learning community, in which families, faculty, alumni, and all of Ranney’s constituents collaborate to know and value every child, foster individual talents, sustain powerful connections between children and adults, and graduate resilient, globally-minded citizens.