When the touring show “Beatles vs. Stones – A Musical Showdown” comes to the Chubb Theater at the Capitol Center for the Arts on Thursday, December 11, the Concord High School String Quartet will join the professional musicians on stage to lend some local talent to this homage to the British Invasion.
The show pits Rolling Stones tribute band Satisfaction against rival Brit boys Abbey Road in an all-out musical showdown for rock dominance. The string quartet will perform six songs with the bands.
The show:
The two greatest rock ‘n’ roll bands of all time face off in Beatles vs. Stones – A Musical Showdown. Taking the side of the Fab Four is Abbey Road, one of the nation’s top Beatles tribute bands. With brilliant musicianship and authentic costumes and gear, Abbey Road plays beloved songs spanning the Beatles’ career. They engage in a “showdown” of the hits with Stones tribute band Satisfaction – The International Rolling Stones Show, who offer a faithful rendition of the music and style of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and the bad boys of the British Invasion. The production includes multimedia, period costumes and vintage instruments. It has toured for years, with a critic for the Los Angeles Times at one point declaring: “This is the most unique tribute show in decades.” The Concord show is part of a 125-city tour of the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
The string quartet:
Concord High School Orchestra’s own Dylan Stewart, Bella Messenger, Connor Gurall, and Elliot Clendenning will join the bands for the songs “Eleanor Rigby,” “A Day in the Life,” “Hello Goodbye,” “Hey Jude,” “Gimme Shelter” and “Ruby Tuesday.”
Quartet members belong to prestigious area ensembles, including the Manchester Community Orchestra and the Dino Aganost Youth Symphony Orchestra. Quartet members also perform with other school orchestras, including pit orchestra, chamber orchestra, jazz band, and band.
All members consistently make all-state in solo and ensemble school competitions, as well as the Greenwich State Invitational.
The producers of Beatles vs. Stones approached Concord High School Orchestra Director Gabe Cohen looking for a quartet who could hold its own with a rock band in front of an audience. The show commonly hires a local quartet to augment the production while on tour.
The quartet is divided. Dylan is a fan of neither the Beatles nor the Stones. Bella confidently picked the Beatles. Connor picks the Stones, with his favorite song being “Start Me Up.” Elliot proclaims neutrality, but in his past, the basslines of the Beatles were his heartbeat.
Dylan Stewart, 17 and a senior at Concord High School, has been playing violin since he was four years old. He also plays piano, trumpet, accordion, and bassoon. Dylan played with his school’s pit orchestra to assist with the theatre productions, and he is also in band, chamber orchestra and jazz band. Dylan also plays in community orchestras like the Manchester Community Orchestra and the Dino Aganost Youth Symphony. Last year, Dylan got All-State for his violin, and he plans to compete again this year with his orchestra as well as jazz band. He also plans on going to the Greenwich State Invitational.
Dylan enjoys music as a “skill I can improve. It’s something I have to focus on and I get a sense of reward out of improving.”
In the future, Dylan plans to go to school for Computer Science, and he wants to continue to play music wherever he goes.
Bella Messenger, 15 and a sophomore, has been playing violin since the fourth grade. She also plays trumpet, clarinet, piano, guitar, ukulele, and she sings. She is supported by her musical family, with her father and brother playing trumpet, her other brother playing clarinet, and her mother singing. Bella also plays with Concord High’s band, jazz band and chamber orchestra, and she sings in Tide Notes, an a capella group. Bella also plays with the New Horizons band, part of the local private music school, and with Dino Aganost Youth Symphony. Bella competes in both violin and voice, and went All-State with voice last year. This year, she plans on competing in both.
Bella uses music as a “nice way to have relief after a long day of academics. It’s a way to express yourself and grow and see how far you can push yourself while also having fun.”
After Bella graduates from Concord High, she plans on going to college to become a music educator. She wouldn’t mind educating in either violin or voice, as long as it’s not elementary.
Connor Gurall, 17 and senior, has been playing music since the fourth grade. Originally, he started with the violin, but gave it up for viola his freshman year at Concord. Connor is encouraged by his family, all of whom play a variety of musical instruments. Beyond playing with Concord High’s orchestra, Connor also plays with the chamber orchestra, jazz band, and band. He also sings in the chamber choir. Like his fellow quartet members, Connor competes in the All-State competition by the Music Teachers Association. This year, he plans on competing in Jazz All-State as well as at the Greenwich State Invitational.
Connor enjoys playing music because it “allows me to express myself correctly. I can flow through the notes, so if I have stress, it helps me with that.”
As for his future musical aspirations, Connor plans on joining jazz ensembles at whatever college he ends up at. After college, Connor wants to become a lawyer.
Elliot Clendenning, 17 and a senior, has been playing the cello for twelve years. Elliot also plays with Concord High’s chamber orchestra, as well as the Dino Aganost Youth Symphony. Elliot plans on competing for All-State this year, as well as at the Greenwich State Invitational.
When asked what his favorite part about playing music is, Elliot said, “It gives me an opportunity to do something I never get to do – I’m very analytical, so it gives me a creative outlet.”
Elliot plans on going to college for mechanical engineering and hopes to play in whatever kind of orchestra his future college has.
More details:
The show will take place on Thursday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $45-$65 and may be purchased at the Theatre Box Office or online at ccanh.com. The Capitol Center for the Arts is located at 44 S Main St, Concord, NH 03301. The show is appropriate for all ages.
Alternating mini power sets with the two bands coming together on stage for an amazing encore makes this show a once-in-a-lifetime event.