ArtsAlive Fundraiser Rocks the Halls

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On Friday May 29, John Jay Middle School hosted the 17th annual Arts Alive Fundraiser. Partnering with the teacher led band Halfway to Sanity, the benefit was not an official school function, so Jesse Weiss laid out the ground rules for the evening

“This is a rock concert so be loud,” said the JJMS sixth grade teacher and drummer.

Gabi Lesmerises gave them good reason. She started with Sparks Fly, and the crowd was definitely down with the Taylor Swift song.

An American Girl for sure, Juliana Fusco, Charlotte Beckett, Sara Bryant and Anika Miklusak reiterated the point by performing the Tom Petty song next.

While enjoying the rendition, Anika’s dad could attest to the commitment. “In the car, in the house, on the way to practice, the song was stuck in her head,” said Neil Miklusak. “She was singing it all the time.”

But rote wasn’t the take away for him. Dad cited the loose structure of the event, and the result was hard to miss. “The biggest thing is you can see how much fun the kids are having,” Miklusak clarified.

No doubt, dad got swept away too. “I was waving my (lighted) phone like everyone else,” he joked.

Spiro Limniatis also had trouble not shifting in his seat. “The music is from my era, all the songs I grew up with,” the dad said.

Message in a Bottle by the Police had his daughter Asimina locking down the crowd, and so did Should I Stay or Should I Go by the Clash. Patrick Yatsko among the vocals, he is a big fan of 80s rock. “I love the energy and the rebelliousness,” he said.

His performance delivered more than notes, though. Gyrations a plenty, the moves hailed from a much earlier era. “The way Elvis danced, I wanted to channel that,” he said, and rocking the audience sat pretty well with the John Jay High School student.

Yatsko wasn’t the only inspired rocker either. Archer Kendall performed Boys in the Better Land and chilled with a pair of sunglasses. “I’m telling everyone I’m Fontaines DC,” said the 8th grader.

All the cheers definitely showed the message got across, and on point, Kai Campbell likes how Rock ’n Roll lets him follow suit. “The music allows me to get my tense emotions out,” said the 6th grader after belting out Someday.

Grace Krzeminski agreed and I Lived by One Republic really gave her permission. “Rock in Roll let’s you be yourself and let it all out,”

David Seligson had no problem doing that, and the exuberance was a two way street. “They feed off us, and we feed off them,” said the guitarist for Halfway to Sanity.

Bouncing around, it was easy to see he’s not just about teaching the strums, and the President of Arts Alive really put the guidance in perspective. “Rock ’n Roll is about having fun, it’s the entire experience,” said Colleen Cerami.

Katie Lyman definitely could see the joy in her daughter’s performance. Lucy Alvarez slung out Carry on My Wayward Son with Aubrey Hickerson, Sammi Mishler, Addie Black, Kayden Zogg, Monica Popescu and Amanda Popescu. But the mom was also inspired by the long view. “It’s exciting to see the 6th graders who were in Kindergarten during the Covid crisis and understand how far they have come,” beamed Lyman.

A long way, looking back mattered too. “It brings back a lot of memories,” said Cerami, and the future should bring many more.

www.klsdartsalive.org

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