STUDENT POINT OF IMPACT CONCERT WILL BE MONDAY

In high school, students rarely get an opportunity to learn what professionalism means, Mark Ellison says. That's why the Cape Central High School music teacher created the annual Point of Impact Concert, which requires his musicians to make the same commitment required of professionals.

The fourth annual Point of Impact concert will be presented Monday and Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. at the Central High School Auditorium.

The concert will offer almost world-music diversity, with performances by the 40-piece N-2 Jazz Band, the Roc Ensemble, the Salsa Project and Japanese Taiko drumming. The common denominator is that the groups will play tunes that for the most part have been popular on the radio at some time or place.

They range from the traditional swing of "Sing, Sing, Sing" to the funkiness of the Average White Band's "Pick Up the Pieces." One tune by the hand-picked Salsa Project, "Mambo Swing," is by a band that performed at Southeast last week, Big Bad VooDoo Daddy.

Ellison transcribes all the songs from CD. "We always try to do music that's on the professional scene," he said. "I want to show them that with hard work and practice they can do what the pros do."

This builds the students' self-esteem, Ellison says. They also come to understand the dedication required to be a professional musician.

The students in both the Roc Ensemble and the Salsa Project rehearsed only on Saturdays throughout the year while the much larger N-2 Jazz Band required an after-school commitment.

Senior trumpet player Shannon Randol plans to study music at Southeast after graduation. Besides N-2 Jazz and the Salsa Project, he also plays in a ska band outside school. He enjoys the diversity of music Point of Impact offers.

"It's all fun to play," he says.

Laura Primonato, also a senior, is playing in the N-2 Jazz Band for the first time this year after two years solely in concert band. "You can do things with this music," the flutist says. "It's easier to get people to listen."

The musicians also are getting the opportunity to perform with professionals. Cape Girardeau musician Bev Reece will play keyboards for the bands. And St. Louis vocalist Arnold Crutchfield will front the ensembles. Another vocalist will be Central student Christy Hey.

For the first time, this concert will include Japanese Taiko drumming, a robust form Ellison studied during a trip to Japan last summer. The two compositions are Ellison's own.

A percussionist himself, Ellison went through college playing in cover bands and country music. He's also done a lot of pick up work, backing well-known entertainers like the Ink Spots and Stella Parton.

Experience really is the best teacher, he says, especially for any of these students who might pursue music after high school. "I want to throw them as far out there as they can get. I want to make sure I gave them as much as I could."

Members of the N-2 Jazz Band are: Randy Smith, Christopher Poden, Rachel Wright, Steven Penny, Keisha Hanna, Julia Ewing, Alex Parsons, Matt Caldwell, John Beaudean, John Fischer, Nicole Palmer, Brandon Buttrey, Mark Anderson, Ryan Stott, Kris Kinder, David Robertson, Nora Renka, Wendy Allen, Cecilia Kuntz and Shannon Randol.

Other members are: Marcus Jones, John Petty, Julie McGowen, Ross Redfearn, Tim Slinkard, Eric Wilke, Eric Niswonger, Jeff Rigdon, Cody Antill, Kirk Miller, Laura Primonato, Amanda Chapman, Erick Harris, Travis Freeman, Amanda Stoecker, Corey Easley, Jeff Burns, Darcy Rigdon, Mike McCowan, Mamie Griesemer and Christy Hey.

Members of the Roc Ensemble are: Neil Randol, Jessica Jones, Marlene Werne, Laura Bowlin, Marlena Hale, Chad Meyr, Barrett Hoover, Ashley Crocker, Amber Ellinghouse, Jeff Rigdon, Abby Elvin, Krista Coleman, Eric Wilke, Liz Herman, Jon Seyer, Mike Sullivan, Eric Niswonger and Kirk Miller.

The Salsa Project includes: Mike Holmes, Chad Meyr, Shannon Randol, Jeff Burns, John Petty, Corey Easley, Ryan Stott, Jeff Rigdon, Abby Ervin, Krista Coleman, Eric Wilke, Liz Herman, Kirk Miller and Christy Hey.