Extra!
Extra! 5.24.08 1:05PM
Okay, inordinate amount of time between updates or not, I am still here and the Sharps are alive and
kickin'! In fact, we even had auditions for next year and we have here a prospective list of our 2008-2009 group
(new members italicized):
Scott Waldman (Business Mgr.)
Max Bennett
Joey
Silver (Music Mgr.)
Harrison Chad
Michael Luke
Ethan Roberts
Ben Pagliaro
Ben Rabinowitz
Danny Mogul
Bobby Namdar
So
there you have it! Of course, this list is still subject to change as it probably will in the coming moths, so you will
definitely hear more as soon as this season ends and Waldy takes the reigns.
The B-Sharps are giving you THREE opportunities to experience the music and the magic this spring. Now, we only
have two venues, the Night of Acappella and the B-Sharps BBQ, but we will be performing almost two completely different sets
at each show of the Night of Acappella! If it isn't cost effective for you to come to both shows, then tickets are already
on sale for the B-Sharps BBQ (Friday June 6th) in which we will be showcasing a year's worth of repitoire and some original
skits!
To round out this post, Mickey Rapkin, author of the upcoming book Pitch Perfect about collegiate acappella, visited
our auditions last week and mentioned us and Chock Full of Notes in his blog and posted videos as well. Here's
a link, check it out: http://pitchperfect-thebook.blogspot.com/. Alright that's it for now, check back lata!
Says Jordan
The B-Sharps'
Papal Journey 4.20.08 3:33PM
Happy April 20th everyone...not like there's anything special about this date or anything....Anyway,
a lot is happening with the world right now, B-Sharps and otherwise! The Pope is in Yankee Stadium right now, none of
the Jews are eatin' bread, and the B-Sharps are hard at work preparing for the spring!
Now as we know, seven of the B-Sharps are graduating and going on to bigger and better things next year in college!
Here's the status for all 7 of us:
Danny: Towson...definitely Towson
Jordan: Binghamton or Tulane...I'm going to N'awlins on Tuesday
Ben: UNC Chapel Hill/Maryland/Muhlenberg...take your pick
Josh: Binghamton 2012
Todd: NYU.......or maybe Geneseo, who knows, but probably NYU
Marek: Geneseo or Binghamton maybe?
Mike: SUNY Oneonta for the Big 'W'
But before college, we've got a full slate of spring performances for the B-Sharps! Make sure to catch the Night of
A-cappella, now officially on May 30! And also, come to the B-SHARPS BARBEQUE, featuring
songs and sketches written by our own B-Sharps members! Anyway, I'll try to do a better job keeping you all posted during
this busy time of the year. Chag Sameach all! And to all else, Happy...errm...papal journey?
Says Jordan
Finally, an
update 3.16.08 12:46PM
Okay, so I'm finally updating the website. A lot has happened since that fateful midweek rehearsal.
The Giants won the Super Bowl, John McCain became the Republican nominee for President, Elliot Spitzer resigned due to a prostitution
scandal, and the Sharps have kept flying high! We premiered 'Is This Love' for Todd's girlfriend Erica during her math
class on Valentine's Day, we resurrected 'Something' from the Sharps vault, and we sang at the SADD Sleepover, Relay for Life
Kickoff Dinner, and Tri-M Music Honor Society Induction ceremony and reception. I've updated the music page, as in this
time we have started a lot of new projects in preparation for the end of the season, which is fast approaching :(
In some performance news, we are hard at work trying to get performances at places such as Syosset Bowl, Borders, and Hofstra
University. We'll definitely have more information on that as the situation continues.
We also plan on releasing another CD this year, the first time in our short history that we will be releasing CDs in consecutive
years! I can't disclose the title yet, but the two titles it may be are "Solitary Confinement" and "How Big
is Your Bleu Cheese?"
Some news on the POBJFKHS a-cappella front, a meeting was held between the leaders of all the groups and we have totally revamped
the audition process. As you may or may not know, the six acappella groups are taking a trip down to POBMS and Mattlin
Middle School on Wednesday to recruit members from middle schools to our groups in future years. After this, all who
are taking choir next year or who are interested in doing so will sign up for an audition time for the group they'd like to
audition for in April and all the groups will hold auditions simultaneously so the rosters for next year's groups can be set
before the summer which leaves time for preparation and chemistry.
With the advent of this, we have unofficially chosen our managers for next year. Two-year vet Scott Waldman will be
taking over the business duties and muscle-man Joey Silver will be assuming musical leadership.
Okay that's it for now. As the days pass, we grow closer and closer to 10,000 hits!!! Keep making this the successful
site that it is!
Says
Jordan
These
wings were pretty hot 1.30.08 08:15PM
So because of Super Bowl XLII this upcoming weekend, the Sharps decided to have a midweek rehearsal
tonight, wings an all. These wings acted as a male stimulant, igniting a sort of comradarie that really, I don't think
I've felt before, in Sharps or elsewhere. Needless to say, besides Marek and Mike coming 45 minutes late, it was a nice
and productive rehearsal and I think everyone had a fantastic time, but Waldy was very missed =(. Anyway, we've got
a performance at the Tri-M Induction in a month and a half or so, so be ready. Also, we recently auditioned at Classy
Coffee in Huntington and it went really well! The people should be calling us back soon to give us a verdict.
Okay, that's it for now. Payce peeps.
Says Jordan
Happy
(belated) New Year! 1.6.08 12:00PM
I'd like to start off by saying I hope you all had a great holiday break, that you did have too much egg nog, and that
your new year brings you bountiful joy! Now on a relevant note, the Second Annual Winter Night of Acappella was this
past Friday and boy was it successful! Amid controversy, we came, we saw, and we conquered. Whether during the
concert, or in the hallway afterwards, there could have been no better way to showcase what we've got. The audience
was receptive, the other groups were congratulatory, but most importantly the group was enthusiastic and we came out as strong
as ever. Of course, this night could not have been possible without the great performances of the other Acappella groups:
Chock Full of Notes, Noteworthy, The Project, On a High Note, and Drastic Measures. I've only received positive feedback
for all of these groups and most importantly...no wardrobe malfunctions for Noteworthy. Alright everyone, enjoy the
new year, I'll promise to be more punctual with the updates.
Says Jordan
Di di
di di di, joy to the world 12.16.07 10:08AM
Alright, before I go into the slu (sp?) of successful performances we've performed
in the past week, I'd just like to extend my congratulations to Todd and Mike for their 3rd straight victory in the POBJFKHS
Battle of the Bands. Their band "The Adventures Of..." have now won 60% of all the Battle of the Bands at the high school,
so bravo to them.
On the Sharp side of things, we've had two performances thus far this week, Tri-M and Senior Citizens Tea, and needless to
say our spirits are flying high. Along with the Tri-M performance for the RADISH club, we also sang for fellow Tri-M
members on the bus, the nice folks at McDonald's, and the Mid-Island Y JCC custodial staff. At our second performance,
along with Chock Full of Notes, we sang our way towards brightening the holiday season of the old folk who came out to the
wildly successful Senior Citizens Tea. Later today, again with Chock, we have our performance at the Sterling Glen Senior
Living Community and then our final full rehearsal before the Night of Acappella.
B#$
returns.
Says Jordan
Six,
Six, Six 12.9.07 10:25PM
Okay, yes it's Danny's favorite number. However, it also happens to be the number of songs we've
got lined up for Senior Citizen's Tea/Sterling Glen/Night of Acappella! Well, Night of Acappella will have less due
to time constraints. But as of now Hump de Bump, Hey Julie, Frosty the Snowman, Closing Time, Joy to the World, and
Jesus Etc. are all performance ready. In the next month, the Sharps are about to storm through Plainview like a blizzard
on Christmas. Speaking of which, Chappy Chanukah from me, Bens R&P, Joey, Todd, Josh, Harrison, Waldy, and Mike!
Well, I guess Bo, Marek, and Danny can wish you a Happy Hannukah...they don't get the privelege of "ch." Anyway, be
on the constant lookout for Sharps sightings, because we might just be singing for you!
Says Jordan
Hear
ye, Hear ye 11.18.07 11:03 AM
So, not much going on here on the B Sharps front. Right now we're just trying to pile on to our
inventory of songs. Todd introduced Jesus Etc. to the group the other day, a work that needs quite a bit of tweaking,
but should be ready to go for Winter NOA. Ben also started working on Joy to the World which will also hopefully be
ready for Winter NOA. That plus Frosty should up our song total to five. Also, Joey has decided to drop Sunday
Morning due to internal complications. Alright, that's it for now, keep checkin' back for more updates. Also catch
Jordan, Ben B, and Ben R in The Laramie Project on 11/29, 11/30, and 12/1. It'll be a fantastic performance!
Says
Jordan
V, for
Victory!!!!! 11.10.07 12:26 PM
So not only did the B Sharps make their first appearance in the talent show in three years, but they
placed!!! The Sharps got 4th in the Ensemble Division behind our own Mike Wittels (and Jason Bader), our own Todd
Levine, Ben Boecker (with Dan Izcovich, Jason Blackman, and Mr. Jack Canfora), and the 1st place winner, Mr. Gallagher and
his dance troupe. Also, Joey Silver and his group of unicyclists and jugglers, "Anti-Gravity" won the grand
prize, so congrats to him as well! Us Sharps are just jacks-of-all-trades.
If you weren't there or couldn't have guessed, we performed Hump de Bump and did so with great vigor and passion. The
group has really come together in these first few months of the 07-08 season and it has definetly paid off. We use this
victory as a symbol of our improvements, but as well as a sign of how much further we have to go. The bar is set here.
From here on out we perform no less than the standard we set last night at the Tri-M Talent Show. We've raised
the bar of high school a-cappella and we don't intend on falling under it anytime soon.
Says Jordan
Hump
de Bump??? 11.4.07 10:48 AM
So yesterday was the A-Cappella Workshop at Oyster Bay High School. We didn't work with the Dear
Abbeys as anticipated, but we worked with another talented all male college group Hawkapella (fate?) from the
University of Hartford. The Sharps were joined by Chock and OaHN on this glorious acappella adventure and it was a great
workshop for all. Due to some scheduling conflicts, only OaHN was able to stick around for the Dear Abbeys,
and then some others stuck around for the concert at night. It was a pretty great opportunity and we got a lot of good
constructive crticism. We did discover though, that we've got ways away to go on Hump de Bump and its performance status
for this Friday was downgraded to Questionable. We'll see what happens based on how productive rehearsal today is.
Speaking of which, come see us in the talent show!!! Friday, November 9th @ 7PM. Be there or be an equi-sided, equi-angled
quadrilateral!
Says Jordan
America's
Got Talent 10.23.07 9:20 PM
Well, B-Sharps got talent. That's right folks! For the first time since 2004, the B-Sharps
will be performing in the annual Tri-M Talent Show! The song you will be hearing we are unsure of as of now.
Of course Hey Julie was our intention from the start, but seeing as Hump de Bump sounded ridic at rehearsal on Sunday, there
might be a change of pace. I guess it will just have to be a grand surprise. So you'd all better be there the
night of November 9th at the POBJFKHS LGI at 8PM (I think.) You'll be seeing the B-Sharps performing
with acts such as the mixed A-Cappella sensation Chock Full of Notes, the Sharps' own Mike Wittels
on a duet with Jason Bader, and of course opera girl Sally Profeta, whose three-peat the Sharps seem poised to prevent!
(Although much props to Sally, she is pretty amazing)
In sports, the Sharps had a game of football after rehearsal on Sunday. It was just the Rabinowii and Todd vs.
Wittels, Ben Pagliaro, and Harrison with Waldy as auto QB. It was an okay game. Definetly not as high octane as
that basketball match was. Whatever.
Okay, and one more thing: happy birthday to Sharps alumnus and my older brother Alex Rabinowitz! It's his big two-zero
today, so everybody wish him a happy burfday. Alright, that's it for now. We'll see you in November!
Says Jordan
White
Men Can Jump 10.8.07 11:10 AM
Actually, they really can't. Well, at least Josh Mass doesn't have to. In a first ever B-Sharps
StreetBall game, Jordan, Waldy, Ben B, Josh, Harrison, and Wittels defeated Todd, Marek, Ben P, Joey, and Danny in a 7-6 pressure-cooker.
In all, it taught us a valuable lesson...that we should all stick to music. And on that front, Hey Julie is absolutely
ready for performance and Hump De Bump gets better and better as the weeks go by. Danny's setting up a performance for
us at Syosset Bowl and we're currently working on re-releasing Fight Back later in the year with remastered
and brand new tracks. Also, we've gotten news from Julie Colatrella that Noteworthy is swiftly on the rise this year
and we hope to have formidable female counterparts once again. Okay, that's it for now. Happy Columbus Day!
Says
Jordan
One
and Done 9.23.07 9:00PM
So in our first rehearsal of the year, we have managed to learn an entire song (mostly) and make it sound pretty good...I
think. Anyways, I'd say with a little tweaking, Hey Julie is ready for Mr. Rubin and his Tri-M minions as the B-Sharps
poise themselves for their first talent show performance in three years. Some other rehearsal notes: Ben Boecker's house
definetly lacking dog...sardines + salsa = bad initation, we need a new one...Todd Levine has been named inaugural B-Sharps
choreographer..."I am gonna make us hump de bump"...12 is no large number at all after coming from a Chock rehearsal
Says Jordan
Bring
in da noise, bring in da funk 9.17.07 4:58PM
And it has certainly been brought. The B-Sharps have acquired six new members into their
acappella fraternity, and they are:
Marek
Solomianko
Mike
Wittels
Joseph Silver
Harrison Chad
Benjamin Rabinowitz
Benjamin Pagliaro
Congrats to all of our new members! Remember, if you're one
of those six guys and you're reading this, your first rehearsal is this Sunday (9/23) at Ben's (Bocker) house. Again,
we thank all who try out and encourage them to keep striving to be a patron and participant of the world of high school acappella!
And to Marek, Mike, Joey, Harrison, Ben, and Ben...welcome aboard
Says
Jordan
L'Shana
Tova!!!! 9.12.07 7:11PM
I'd like to start off by wishing a happy new year to all of our Jewish followers out there from
myself, Josh, Todd, and Waldy! And all 6 of us, gentiles included (sorry Ben and Danny) would like to thank all 12 guys
who came and tried out for the B Sharps today and yesterday! We understand it was a traumatic process for everyone,
considering our grilling questions, and we appreciate your balls. That's like, courage, not testicles. Anyway,
the new B-Sharps are................you'll have to wait till the first MNC on September 17th. Peace.
Says Jordan
Summertime
and the livin's not so easy 9.4.07 10:34PM
Okay, so I guess the summer isn't technically over for another 9 hours, but once you've got a choir
exec board meeting, I guess it's time to call it a summer. Which only means that the B-Sharps 07-08 season is just around
the corner! We had our first real rehearsal today with the incumbent 6 in preparation for the preview concert, and might
I say Closing Time sounded prettah sweet. We are gonna be recruitin' mad peeps and all will see the glory of #s!!! (That's
"Sharps" not "numbers")
Says Jordan
And
Then There Were Six 8.31.07 1:51PM
Six years ago, a new era had begun in the halls of Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School. The B-Sharps. Founded
upon the principles of having a good time and just making acappella music with some buddies, the Sharps have created
an acappella phenomenon, captivating audiences from Round Swamp Road to South Oyster Bay Road and everywhere inbetween.
This year, the B-Sharps seek to look back into the past, and truly exemplify what the Sharps are all about. You are
about to experience an Acappella revolution unlike that of one ever seen before. The likes of Jordan, Ben, Danny, Todd,
Josh, Waldy, and various others yet to be named, are going to return B-Sharps to high school acappella supremacy. You
will hear brand new songs, covering artists such as Jason Mraz, Wilco, Fountains of Wayne, Kansas, and Red Hot Chili
Peppers. And of course songs of old, such as Frosty the Snowman and Closing Time. And one super top-secret ultimate
B-Sharps project currently being worked out in the depths of hell (Danny's basement). Prepare for glory. This
is our time.
Says Jordan
