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| By G. Michael Dobbs Managing Editor LONGMEADOW Jo Sallins seldom has the opportunity to work with high school students and is relishing the opportunity when he appears at Longmeadow High School on April 16 in a special concert featuring the Longmeadow High School Jazz and String Ensemble. The performance of Sallins' composition "Thou Shall Not Kill" has been arranged by Justin Cashingino and will not only feature the high school performers but also percussionists Jesse Cashingino and Abimael Robles. The free performance will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. at Longmeadow High School and is open to the public. Sallins said that Julissa Rodriguez will perform poetry inspired by Sallins' music before the musical performance, something Sallins described as "very powerful." The point of the concert is to inspire young people to examine violence through music, he explained. The performance will be filmed and distributed on DVD and Sallins hopes to bring his concept to other schools, not only in this state, but also across the country. Besides working as a performer, Sallins is well known as a musical educator and told Reminder Publications that he usually works on projects with students from kindergarten to middle school. He said that in the past some educators have wondered if high school students would find his music a fusion of jazz, blues, rock and funk relevant. A full-time musician, Sallins said, "We play for kids like we do adults." He added that his experience at Longmeadow High School showed him there are many students thinking of a career in music and they've enjoyed working with a musician. Sallins' concert is underwritten by Hoop City Jazz Inc. and the Point of View newspaper. |