Melissa Castellini, a Baldwinsville resident, has had the opportunity to become a member of the Le Moyne College Jazzuits under the direction of Carol Jacobe, former choral director at Baker High School. A freshman studying English with a concentration in elementary and special education at Le Moyne College, she graduated from Christian Brothers Academy of Syracuse. Castellini has always been active in music playing lead roles in several of the Baldwinsville Theater Guild’s productions and performing in CBA’s Select Chorus, Senior High Chorus and also playing the sting bass for the newly formed orchestra at her high school. Castellini received Next in Merit for Music in the Fine Arts Department. Performing with the Jazzuits is very special for Castellini as she always admired Baker High’s Silk & Satin when she was younger. Other Jazzuit news
At 3 and 6 p.m. Sunday Oct. 25, Cookie Coogan from Ithaca College will join the Le Moyne College Jazzuits on a “Sentimental Journey—Melodies from the Movies” at Jazz Central in Syracuse. Coogan is a gifted jazz singer now working in the Upstate New York region. She has appeared with many different bands and bandleaders, as well as with her own groups and as a solo artist. Coogan’s repertoire consists of more than 150 tunes ranging from popular and lesser-known standards of the Great American Songbook, to jazz and blues classics, to Brazilian bossa novas and charming originals. With her wide vocal range and versatile tone, she presents each selection, whether a warm ballad or foot stompin’ blues, in an authentic and personal jazz style. The Jazzuits, Le Moyne College’s Vocal Jazz Ensemble, is under the direction of Carol Jacobe, professor of vocal studies, at Le Moyne College. The ensemble, which consists of 16 vocalists and a complete rhythm section of piano, bass and drums, performs all styles of jazz. This year, the Jazzuits’ theme is “music from the movies.” Song titles from Casablanca, The Sandpiper, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Joker is Wild and Swing Time are a few of the movies being represented in song. Coogan will be performing some of her favorite movie tunes including the 1936 Oscar winning tune, “The Way You Look Tonight,” and Henry Mancini’s 1962 Oscar winning title, “The Days of Wine and Roses.” Coogan will also join the Jazzuits on several tunes including the number two song from the American Film Institute, “As Time Goes By.” Tickets are $5 for students, $7 for seniors and $10 for adults and can be purchased in advance by calling 445-4523. Tickets will also be sold at the door.