The Somers Record Thursday, December 11, 2014

PAGE 20

AN EVENING OF DRUMMERS

Natalee Ricca rocks out.

Drew Pohle plays Cineramascope by Galactic.

PHOTOS: RICH MONETTI

Owen Carey shows his skills.

Young drummers rock Somers Community Center

Seventh annual event aims to build confidence and a love of music
BY RICH MONETTI
FOR THE SOMERS RECORD

On Saturday Night, Nov. 22,

Westchester drummer and music teacher JJ Clarke held her
seventh annual An Evening of

Drummers at the Somers Community Center in Shenorock. A

vehicle to build community and
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only for the kids.
I get so nervous, but as soon
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said Clarke before the show began.

Debe Stellio of Bedford did not

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her son, Vincent, who was slated
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it can never be too loud, too early
or too late, said Stellio.
Before 6-year-old Daniella
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We Will Rock You, Clarke laid
out the fundamentals for the eveQLQJ :HUH DOO ZRUNLQJ RQ OLV
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Clarke.
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members to take the stage, DaniHOODGHQLWHO\URFNHGWKHVDQ
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the way for another classic.
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said. The drummer has to listen,
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can alternate between even and
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Luke Kovensky then made no
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of age with it. Who remembers
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from The Breakfast Club.
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ters, Drew Pohle rose to the challenge of delivering a song called
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A fusion of funk, New Orleans
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It really runs the gamut.
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go wrong with The Beatles and
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SEE DRUMMERS PAGE 21

The Somers Record Thursday, December 11, 2014

PAGE 21

Westchester drummer
and music teacher JJ
Clarke holds her seventh
annual An Evening of
Drummers.

Anna McKee
jams out to
What Makes
You Beautiful
by One
Direction.

Vincent Stellio
plays a classic
from AC/DC.
PHOTOS: RICH MONETTI

Ben Sisko and his

mom, Cat Alessio

FROM PAGE 20
credibly hard and make it sound so
easy. Incorporating odd sequences
of beats around a beautiful melody,
Here Comes the Sun may be their
greatest.
The buildup in play, Steven Fay
failed to miss a beateven if he
didnt quite carry Ringos mop-top.
Ben Sisko, coming without Elvis Costellos glasses, also made
due in (Whats So Funny Bout)
Peace, Love, and Understanding,
and credits Clarke with bringing
him to the next level after eight
years of training. Im getting a lot
more out of it than with my other
teachers, because shes a much
better drummer than me, said the
12-year-old.
Siskos Mom gave Clarke the
thumbs up too. She works well
with his personality, said Cat
Alessio. Shes teaching him to listen and not rush.
Anna McKee made One Direction of What Makes You Beautiful and believes girls hold their
owndespite their underrepresentation in the world of drummers.
Girls are better because everybody sees them as tiny, but then
they turn out to be really aggressive as drummers, she asserted.
Even so, Vincent Stellio took the
high road in his rendition of the
AC/DC classic and knew where his
audience was throughout. I dont
have to look at the sheet music, because its in my muscle memory,
he said. I just know the song by
heart.
Either way, his mom was
pumped. Im blown away, said
Debe Stellio.
She wasnt the only one.