The highly regarded Perlman Music Program will give a rare East Hampton concert on Tuesday in celebration of its 30th anniversary, bringing students from around the world and the maestro Itzhak Perlman as conductor to the high school for “a rousing program of orchestral and choral masterworks” in collaboration with East End Arts. Patrick Romano is the program’s choral director.
Three East Hampton High School students — Jadiel Rodriguez and Benson Edman, who will be seniors in September, and Elijah Jones, who will be a junior — will perform a song with the Perlman orchestra that night in the concert at East Hampton High School. Jadiel and Elijah are cellists, while Benson plays the violin.
Stephanie Quigley, who oversees the high school’s orchestra program, described them as three of her top students. “But I don’t want to take the credit, because they’re doing the work,” Ms. Quigley said yesterday. “I’m just happy that I can inspire them even in the tiniest amount. The three of them work so hard, and have all year, and I’m so excited for them.”
They will perform “Largo,” an aria from Handel’s 1738 opera “Xerxes.” Students have been attending two-hour rehearsals every Monday for the last several weeks to prepare for the concert.
Jadiel said that the students aren’t totally certain at exactly what tempo Mr. Perlman will conduct the piece, so they’ve been rehearsing it a number of ways. “It wasn’t tedious but it really kind of set expectations,” said Jadiel, who looked up the music and began practicing it on his own before the rehearsals started.
“I’m really looking forward to having Mr. Perlman as a conductor,” Benson said. “I’ve heard he’s such an amazing violin player, and I am interested to see how he conducts . . . and I’ve heard he likes to crack jokes, so I can’t wait to meet him. . . . I’m really happy I’m able to participate in this program. I think it’s a great thing and it does a lot for the music community.”
Tickets cost $25, free for students. An open rehearsal starts at 5 p.m., with the concert at 7. Tickets can be bought at the door or online at perlmanmusicprogram.org.