Millstone youth uses music to lift the human spirit

Frankie Prendergast has gone confidently in the direction of his dreams.

Frankie Prendergast, Millstone, plays the upright bass at the Romp for Research held in Manhattan Oct. 4 to raise awareness and funds for Down syndrome cognitive research. Frankie Prendergast, Millstone, plays the upright bass at the Romp for Research held in Manhattan Oct. 4 to raise awareness and funds for Down syndrome cognitive research. The 18-year-old Millstone musician, who graduated from Allentown High School last year, has always wanted to change people with music from the stage and in the classroom.

“I believe that music in today’s world is even more important to help lift the human spirit,” Prendergast said. “If I can make a difference in someone’s life with my music, that is a satisfaction that cannot be compared to anything else.”

The young musician, who plays upright and electric bass, has already shared the stage with musicians who kept company with Frank Sinatra and Maynard Ferguson. And he’s molding his musical career as he studies jazz performance and music education in a five-year dual degree program at the Maynard Ferguson Institute of Jazz Studies at Rowan University in Glassboro.

“The most exciting thing about my major is that I am with other incredible musicians who share my intense love of performing,” Prendergast said. “If we aren’t in class or rehearsals, we are singing and writing music.”

Rowan University has provided everything Prendergast hoped it would, and so much more.

“I have been given incredible opportunities by my professors, including Denis Di- Blasio, who I do lab band with,” Predergast said. “I was thrilled to make the lab band as a freshman bass player. The lab band at Rowan University is a one-of-a-kind group.”

Prendergast is looking forward to performing with DiBlasio during an upcoming jazz seminar in Washington, D.C. He also said he has found a mentor in upright-bass professor Douglas Mapp.

“I chose Rowan especially because of these talented jazz musicians who have so much to offer their students,” Prendergast said. “They are always performing somewhere, whether in orchestras or jazz bands, and it’s just so awesome to be their student.”

Prendergast primarily plays the upright bass and electric bass, which he has played for three years and five years, respectively. He has also played the alto and tenor sax for seven years. Currently, he performs with Rowan’s lab band, jazz band, orchestra, and small jazz ensembles.

“I am still performing with my own jazz combo, which changes musicians periodically depending on the gig,” he said.

Even though his schedule is filled with seminars, practice and gigs, he still finds the time to use his talents for community service.

“Our most recent was The Romp for Research in New York City, which I also had performed at last year,” Prendergast said.

Founded in 2006, The Romp for Research strives to raise awareness about the talents and passions of people with Down syndrome as well as raise funds for Down syndrome cognition research. Since its founding, The Romp for Research has hosted more than 2,000 live participants and raised more than $500,000 for cognition research.

Prendergast “romped” on the upright bass while accompanied by Rowan students Megan Oravsky, keyboard, Gavin McAuley, drums, and Matt Hartmann, trumpet, at the Asphalt Green on Manhattan on Oct. 4.

“This year I took it to a different level and took three other jazz musicians from Rowan and had a lot of fun with the audience, especially the kids,” Prendergast said. “The kids really get a kick out of the music, and we let them explore the instruments.”

Prendergast believes community service helps him keep two feet on the ground.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to do something for someone else,” he said. “It makes you humble.”

He continued, “I feel I have been blessed with great family and good health and now am living my dream as a musician. What better way to say thank you?”

In January he will be performing at a benefit show for the South Shore Rotary Foundation of Staten Island, N.Y.

“Many outstanding singers perform for this charity event, which raises money for various organizations on Staten Island,” Prendergast said. “It’s a lot of fun for a worthy cause.”

Staten Island concertgoers may already know Prendergast, since he performed and professionally recorded “One Night Only” there in August.

“I was proud to be asked to perform with Al Lambert, Vinnie Ruggiero and Michael Morreale in Staten Island for a show called ‘One Night Only’ — a tribute to the music of Frank Sinatra,” he said. “It was an awesome feeling to be performing with these great artists and musicians who had actually been in Sinatra’s company, and who have played with the Count Basie Orchestra, Joe Jackson and many other big bands.”

Prendergast said musicians who have a sense of humor, a well-grounded self and a pure dedication to music inspire him.

He said Jeff Santoro, director of Allentown High School bands, showed him that musicianship and humor could go hand in hand.

“His style of teaching is one that I would like to emulate,” Prendergast said.

The vice principal of his alma mater, Brian Myslinski, also played a role in Prendergast’s decision to go into teaching.

“He always had a way of putting things in perspective in a sincere and honest way,” Prendergast said. “He helped make my Allentown days great.”

However, Joe Russo, Prendergast’s third-grade teacher in Millstone, was the first to inspire Prendergast to become a teacher, he said.

While Prendergast loves being challenged on his instrument by Mapp at Rowan, he said he will never forget his electric bass instructor Chris Plunkett, who taught him about jazz and jazz theory. He also said he relates to DiBlasio, who played with Maynard Ferguson for many years and composed and published many charts.

“His relaxed sense of self and yet demanding perfection is something that I seem to relate to,” he said. “My work load is very demanding. I have very little spare time. However, I am doing what I love, so for me, it’s just doing what I’ve always wanted to do.”

He will perform Nov. 12 with Rowan’s lab band and at the end of November with the small jazz ensemble. The university’s concert schedule continues through May and can be found at www.rowan.edu/colleges/ fpa.

Prendergast is in the process of creating his own website to showcase his performances and recording work.

“I also am planning to teach kids over the summer in bass and saxophone,” he said. “I welcome the young schoolchild who may have some difficulty with school.”

He said helping his sister Michelle with music has improved her grades in other subjects, especially math. He would like to teach as a professor in college.

“Music heals, soothes and distresses,” he said. “I have yet to see anyone get angry after listening to their favorite tune. Music is therapy, and what better way to try and give something special than to create and perform music.”