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The RE Jazz Singers headline an exciting Jazz and Guitar Concert

Ransom Everglades debuted its newest ensemble – the RE Jazz Singers – with an exciting opening performance at RE’s Jazz and Guitar Concert. Thirteen junior and senior vocalists highlighted the Nov. 19 event at the Posner Lecture Hall, performing five pieces including “Route 66” and “I Gotta Get.” The RE Combo, the Blue Note Combo and RE’s guitar classes also performed, sharing their musical progress from the fall semester.

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RE Vocal Director Laura Montes introduced the RE Jazz Singers, noting the new group was the brainchild of the late Shawn Costantino, RE’s former Director of Arts who concluded a three-year tenure at RE in June and passed away this month.

“Tonight, through our music-making, our singing and our love for jazz, we pay tribute to his memory,” Montes said, “and we celebrate his legacy as an incredible performer and an inspirational teacher and, most of all, a dear friend.”

Montes also thanked University of Miami Frost School of Music graduate student Ana Chubb for assisting RE as a vocal coach, and accompanists Arn Xu and Griffin Nelson-Montet ’25.

The vocalists took the stage after RE’s Guitar I and Guitar II classes performed five pieces under the direction of RE Instrumental Director Jon Hamm. The concert concluded with the Blue Combo, which performed three pieces, and the RE Jazz Combo, which performed “Footprints,” “All The Things You Are,” and “Oleo.”

Hamm introduced his student musicians, and he also offered a shout-out to instructor Ari de la Portilla, who filled in for him for the first six weeks of the school year.

“My wonderful students,” Hamm said, “when they come to class they get their instruments out and they are ready to work. They have been terrific.”

Guitar I
Hank Derick ’28
R.J. Donaldson ’25
Victoria Garcia-Pinochet Pena ’28
Miles Gelber ’25
Denny Hankollari ’27
Yanni Tettamante ’28
 
Guitar II
Charlie Holleman ’26
Juliana Hommen ’27
Enrique Macias ’26
Lucas Praca ’27
Ellie Stokes ’26
 
RE Jazz Singers
Austin Aagaard ’26
Alejandro Andrade ’25
Daniela Garcia ’26
Lisel Green ’26
Sophia Lopez ’25
Anna Lugo ’25
Isabella Ranawat ’26
Jaerla Sajous ’25
Armando Segrera ’25
Miranda Silva ’26
Ronja Stargala ’25
Cianna Vengoechea Schiff ’25
Sasha Zack ’25
 
Blue Note Combo
Antonio de Andrade ’27, bass
Andrew Gedde ’25, piano/vibes
Auguste Hoelle ’26, vibes/piano
Hudson Kaplan ’25, trombone
Lily Poses ’26, drums
Patricio de Lope ’26, guitar
Vicki Pinilla ’25, flute
 
RE Jazz Combo
Simone Carrasco ’27, tenor sax
Carlos Horcasitas ’25, bari sax
Paloma Lopes ’25, vibes/piano
Noah Martin ’25, guitar
Griffin Nelson-Montet ’25, drums
Sophia Rakhimi ’25 piano/vibes
Morgan Williams ’26, bass

Jon Hamm, Instrumental Director
Laura Montes, Vocal Director

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Founded in 1903, Ransom Everglades School is a coeducational, college preparatory day school for grades 6 - 12 located on two campuses in Coconut Grove, Florida. Ransom Everglades School produces graduates who "believe that they are in the world not so much for what they can get out of it as for what they can put into it." The school provides rigorous college preparation that promotes the student's sense of identity, community, personal integrity and values for a productive and satisfying life, and prepares the student to lead and to contribute to society.