Axel Ahdritz to Perform at the Scarsdale Salon
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- Written by Preeti Singh
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Fifteen year-old SHS student Axel Ahdritz has grown up with music. His father is a music publisher and plays the saxophone. His mother is adept at classical flute, his older brother is studying classical piano and composition, and his younger brother is receiving training in piano and the violin.
Axel has been playing the guitar since he was seven. When he moved to Scarsdale from London in 2008, he joined the Hoff-Barthelson Music School and later switched over to study contemporary music at the Lagond Music School in 2009. Axel has performed with his Lagond band on the guitar (the Bitter End in Manhattan and The Haven, Elmsford), with a vocal ensemble from Lagond (at Garcia's, Port Chester) and his own creations on guitar and vocal (Coffee House at Scarsdale Middle School, Scarsdale High School, Scarsdale Teen Center and at Berklee in Boston)
Here Axel Ahdritz tells us more about himself, and what he will play at the Scarsdale Salon on Thursday February 4 at 7:30 pm at the Scarsdale Library.
What music will you play at the Salon?
I will probably play 2 of my original pieces and also "Tears In Heaven" by Eric Clapton. One of my pieces is called "Puppeteer" and it is about the struggle between ones obsessions and obligations to life, love, family, school etc. It is a driving piece that really moves forward. Another one of my pieces is more of an emotional piece called "Dark" that I have never performed for anyone before. It begins small and rises to a large chorus. It was originally arranged as a piano piece but I transposed it into guitar.
Who are the musicians you admire, and what are your favorite music pieces?
I don't necessarily have any specific music pieces that really stand out and stay with me. I explore many different genres of music and my favorite songs stay with me relatively briefly because once they stop achieving that emotional response and connect, they lose their excitement. I might listen to some Neighborhood, Eminem, Eric Clapton, the Foo Fighters, Guns and Roses, sometimes Miles Davis with my father, old 50s orchestras, Led Zeppelin and Skrillex. I can go on for days. It just really depends on how I'm feeling at that time and how effective the music is. For instance, right now I'm in a "muse" phase and I adore them.
How many hours in a day do you practice?
I may practice guitar and piano for about 2-3 hours a day, but I sing all day to myself so there is no counting the hours I spend singing. Then I also may write songs for about 3 hours a day on top of the guitar, piano, and vocal training. So in total about 5 hours of music related activities every day after school.
Why do you prefer the guitar to other instruments?
I personally prefer the guitar to the majority of other instruments because the guitar is streamlined and versatile. I can carry it everywhere with me, and its music can be applied in many different settings (school, family, performances, personal enjoyment/ entertainment, fun thing to do with friends). I can also take it to other countries or bring it with me on road trips and just play with nothing more than my fingers or a pick. I also love the different styles of music that one can play where the change of just one finger in a chord can evoke a completely different emotion. It is also a much more personal and intimate instrument, and it can achieve a true connection with every individual in an audience.
What do you do in your free time?
Well to be honest I don't do much else other than music as I never really watched much TV and I stopped playing video games a while back. I might hang out with friends a couple times a week, but that is it. If I have any free time I use it to write songs and expand my chances at being able to work with music when I get older.
How You Can Help to Maintain Our Village in a Park
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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The Scarsdale Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) wants you! Its mission is to advise the Board of Trustees on issues affecting the Village's environment and the maintenance of its natural character. In recent years the CAC has undertaken a review of the Village's tree ordinance, explored leaf collection alternatives and it is now reviewing landscape guidance for new construction while also preparing a policy on use of renewable technologies in Village capital projects.
The CAC's approach is to carefully research and discuss policy alternatives and to craft recommendations that attempt to respect the legitimate concerns of all stakeholders. It meets once monthly for lively and often creative discussion. To insure independence of thought, it relies on diversity; it requires no particular background and places modest demands on its members.
Want to improve the Village your kids live in? Mad about those trees that got chopped down? Worried about climate change? Want a low-commitment introduction to Village Government? Or do you simply want to engage in good discussion over a slice of pie? Click here to learn more.
CAC Recommends Landscaping Guidelines
What are best practices for landscaping when planning renovations and construction projects in Scarsdale? The Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) has designed some guidelines for keeping the green in the Village in a Park and they are asking the Board of Trustees to consider distributing them to residents and builders who apply for permits in the Village.
Lee Fischman says that the CAC hopes to raise awareness about landscaping among residents and developers early in the construction process, so that they can consider trees, shrubs and planting at the same time. Though following these suggestions will not be a condition of approval for construction, these criteria could serve as guidelines both for the BAR and the applicants.
Here are just a few of their recommendations:
- Plant canopy trees to provide shade, soak up water and cool your property
- Plant a lawn garden to diversify your yard, attract birds and butterflies and provide greenery year-round.
- Use native plants as they require less maintenance, are colorful, well adapted and require less fertilizer.
- Consider alternatives to arborvitae for screening – such as evergreens, deciduous hedges and small trees.
Learn more by attending a meeting at 7 pm on Tuesday January 12 at Village Hall where the Conservation Advisory Council will present their recommendations to the trustees.
Tree Lighting and Letters for Santa
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A crowd of Scarsdale kids, parents and carolers came to Boniface Circle on Friday December 4 to meet Santa Claus, eat s'mores, drink hot chocolate and watch the lighting of the Scarsdale's Christmas tree.
Warm weather brought out a large group who cheered when the majestic tree lit up and then lined up to meet Santa and tell him what they wanted for Christmas.
The event was sponsored by the Scarsdale Chamber of Commerce with refreshments from Lange's, candy canes from Imagine Candy and gift bags from LF.
The village is now collecting letters to Santa Claus from good little girls and boys. Letters can be dropped off at Santa's mailboxes by the Chase Bank on East Parkway, the Post Office on Chase Road, in front of Metro Deli on Palmer Avenue and in front of Scarsdale Village Hall.
The deadline to submit letters is Monday December 14th. Send one soon and expect to receive a personalized letter from Santa in return.
School of Rock on Broadway: High Volume Talent
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Given Scarsdale's proximity to Manhattan, tickets to a Broadway show are a popular gift idea for those who prefer to give "experiences" as an alternative to a durable gift. Lots of people have been asking questions about the brand new Andrew Lloyd Weber musical "School of Rock." They want to know whether its appropriate for kids and if the show is worth seeing without the former lead, Jack Black. I trekked into the city this week, just after opening night, to check it out and report back.
Andrew Lloyd Weber has returned to the Winter Garden Theater after a long hiatus, (his hit Broadway show "Cats" played there for more than a decade and a half,) and some would say he's better than ever. Not that he hasn't been busy with his other shows like "Phantom of the Opera" and and "Evita," among others. This time, his show is based on the well-received 2003 movie "School of Rock" and includes a mostly original score and a cast full of super talented kids. The lyrics are by Glenn Slater ("The Little Mermaid"), the book is by Julian Fellowes ("Downton Abbey"), the show is directed by Laurence Connor ("Les Miserables"), and the music is by Lord Andrew Lloyd Weber himself.
"School of Rock" stars Alex Brightman as Dewey Finn, the iconic role played by Jack Black in the film by the same name. It features a bunch of fourth-graders who attend the snobbish, uptight private school, Horace Green Prep. Dewey Finn is a wannabe guitar-playing rocker who gets kicked out of his band at the beginning of the show. He's behind on his rent and his roommate named Ned Schneebly, (played by spencer Moses) and his roommate's girlfriend (played by Mamie Parris) pressure him to pay up. Dewey has no job and is completely focused on winning the local Battle of the Bands even though he was booted from his band. He's often hung over. An underachiever and an opportunist, Dewey accepts a job at the local prep school as a substitute teacher under the guise of his roommate. Instead of teaching school, however, Mr. Schneebly/Dewey turns his classroom into a rock and roll mecca and convinces 13 prim-and-proper, classically trained but musically talented students to join his one-man band for the Battle of the Bands contest at a local dive bar.
The parents, the teachers, and the principal (played by the stellar Sierra Boggess of "The Little Mermaid" fame) are not pleased with what they see of this substitute teacher but he convinces them that he's qualified to teach and pulls the curtain over their eyes. The kids begin to trust him and loosen up and thus create their band, the "School of Rock."
Does Alex Brightman compare to Jack Black? The energy Brightman puts into the role is contagious and he has the audience laughing and clapping wildly. It's hard to knock a highly-pleased audience's response. Mr. Brightman told another publication that he loses two pounds per show and is on a strict diet to maintain his weight, which tells you something about the effort he puts into the role. Mr. Brightman doesn't just steal the show with his over-the-top performance, he also connects with his child co-stars on a musical, comedic, and dramatic level which will please all types of theater-goers.
Fourteen years after the movie, "School of Rock" on Broadway has been updated with present-day references to gluten intolerance, women earning 70 cents to the dollar, and an exaggerated tuition increase at the prep school. The kids cast in the show actually play their instruments. Although the kids are exceptionally talented in many ways, the lyrics are sometimes difficult to hear and understand because the background music is too loud (although one could hardly call it "background"). "Stick It to the Man" is one of the catchier musical numbers and is certainly one you'll be hearing for awhile. "If Only You Would Listen" is a beautiful number performed in Act I in which Horace Green kids are shown asking their parents to listen to their needs and wishes; it is heartbreakingly beautiful both in terms of lyrics and music. The Reprise of that song is special as the kids sing it to Dewey after it is discovered that he is not the real Mr. Schneebly. The kids really add to the fun and wow factor of the show: Bobbi Mackenzie, who plays the quiet and shy Tomika, surprises with a highly trained voice; Carly Gendell and Taylor Caldwell are adorable back up singers with all the right dance moves; Evie Dolan is the bass player with a highly entertaining bass-face; Brandon Niederaurer is the electric guitar player who has a fantastic voice as well; Luca Padovan is the "stylist" who is adorable and adds humor to the show.
The clapping at the end of the show was almost as deafening as the guitar solos but it is also evidence that this show is immediately creating a following and will be around for awhile. In fact, a West End production and national tour have been announced. So right after people accept the fact that Alex Brightman can play the heck out of Jack Black's character, audiences will have to be convinced that other potential Dewey Finns exist out there. Or do they?
Of the reviews I read about "School of Rock" I was shocked that I didn't read anything about the set design. I was blown away by the intricacies of the set design. Scenic designer Anna Louizos transforms the stage to a prep school, into a roadside bar and then into an apartment and the changes were magical.
As far as the show being kid-friendly, there is some profane language (including d-bag and some curse words as well as references to drinking and being hung over), but it's not terribly in your face and would likely go over many kids' heads. Unless your child is sensitive to bright lights and very loud music, most kids 8 and up would likely understand "School of Rock" and find it to be fun and even inspirational. Kids will love seeing the head-banging back-up singers and the cast of the show rocking out. That being said, it's certainly not a musical just for kids. Adults who enjoy rock and roll or loved the movie will find the musical version on Broadway to be a lot of fun. As with any Broadway show, it helps to familiarize yourself with the music and the story line beforehand.
School of Rock is on stage at the Winter Garden Theater; $145 top. Opened Dec. 6, 2015. Running time of 2 hours 20 minutes. Click here for tickets and showtimes.
Photo Opps: Thanksgiving Football, WJCS Gift Drive, Scavenger Hunt and Christmas Wreaths
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Keith Schutzman reports that Greenacres dads and sons held their 17th Annual Greenacres Turkey Bowl on Thanksgiving and it was bigger and better than ever. There were almost 30 participants. For the first time they played fathers vs. sons and as could be expected, youth won out pretty handily. However, the fathers excelled at the post game "mini-tailgate in the park." While the youths 
rehashed their great plays, the dads bemoaned their dropped passes and blown coverages over bagels, donuts and a lot of beverages.
WJCS Holiday Gift Drive:
Over 200 gifts for kids were donated at the 10th annual gift drive for Westchester Jewish Community Services at the home of Linda Plattus on Tuesday December 1st. 
Gift cards, lego sets, craft kits, barbies and superheroes will be distributed to the many children in the county served through WJCS's programs. Representatives from WJCS reviewed their work, asked for volunteers and thanked the group for the gifts, saying that for some children, these would the only holiday gifts they would receive.
Greenacres Scavenger Hunt:
Parents and students investigated the Greenacres School inside out, at a scavenger hunt sponsored by the PTA to celebrate its centennial year on Sunday November 29, 2015.
Teams of parents and kids were given a list of clues and searched the school to find the answers. They searched everywhere, from the faculty lounge to the library and hall bulletin boards to complete the hunt, which included some puzzling questions like, "Greenacres has an inedible turkey, How many feathers does it have?
Once they completed the hunt, they totaled up their scores and received some beautiful prizes bearing the Greenacres centennial logo.
The gym was set up with a complete array of games and crafts, offering a good time for all.It was quite an undertaking. Hats off to school on its 100th birthday.
Scarsdale Boy Scouts:
Scarsdale Boy Scouts Troop 4 prepared over 200 wreaths to be sold to the community. Proceeds from the annual sale help to fund the troop's activities. The troop is a non-sectarian unit and welcomes boys from middle through high school.
