By Matthew Schuh ‘26
On a brisk Wednesday night, January 8, over 25 Chaminade students, teachers, and alumni gathered on the stage of Darby Auditorium for an evening of musicianship and camaraderie during Chaminade’s third annual Jam Night.
Jam Night, founded in conjunction with Chaminade’s Jam Band and led by social worker Mr. Joseph Wasserman, has become a yearly staple within the Chaminade community. Mr. Wasserman reflected on the humble beginnings of Jam Band. “I had a couple of students that I knew were musicians through talking with them, and we collectively came up with an idea to have a group of guys who could jam together,” he remarked. He then brought this suggestion to Mr. Daniel Petruccio of the guidance department, who immediately approved the idea. “If I had a word to describe how quickly he said yes, I would say it because he jumped at the idea so quickly,” he joked. He then connected with Mrs. Zehnter, the moderator of the Music Club, and together they coordinated with the music department to borrow equipment like drums and amps.
Mr. Wasserman also described how Jam Night came to be. “It kind of just came together,” he recalled. “We never meant for it to be scripted; it should be an open, pressure-free space for musicians to just play and have a good time.” Regarding the inclusion of alumni performances for the first time this year, Mr. Wasserman explained how his original idea to have an alumni-exclusive night evolved. “I originally wanted to have a separate night to commemorate the club’s founders, but I ended up combining it with the student event, and I think that’s how it will be going forward.”
Featuring performances spanning multiple genres, the night showcased the diverse musical talents of all participants. The event kicked off with a hard-hitting rendition of Metallica’s 1984 hit “Creeping Death.” As the evening progressed, performers covered a vast range of genres, including grunge rock from the 1990s with songs by Nirvana and Alice in Chains, classic rock and country oldies from artists such as the Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, and Johnny Cash, and even 1980s hard rock hits from bands like Guns N’ Roses and Mötley Crüe. The evening concluded with a memorable performance of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition,” during which each musician had the opportunity to take center stage and improvise a short solo.
For the performers, the event was a celebration of their shared love for music and performing. Matthew Dwyer ‘28, who played the banjo, reflected on his experience. “I thought it was very fun. It was cool seeing all the alumni and getting everybody together to create music,” he said. Luke Sacco-Sanchez ‘25, who played guitar, also looked back on the experience fondly. “I wish it ran longer,” he commented. “I had a blast performing with everybody.”
Jam Night proved to be a huge hit among students, faculty, and spectators alike, with everyone enjoying the diverse performances. Due to its success, the Jam Band plans to host a second event, promising even more original performances and great musical energy in the near future.
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