Bridgewater-Raritan High School Students Sound Off With Orchestra Concert

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The main gymnasium at Bridgewater-Raritan High School was transformed into a concert theater by a skilled group of students and their dedicated director.

The Bridgewater-Raritan High School Winter Orchestra Concert was performed before an attentive and thrilled audience on Wednesday, Dec. 6.

The concert was held in the high school’s gym, which served as the venue while the finishing touches on the renovations of the auditorium are being constructed.

"The contractors are doing the final install of the new state-of-the-art light and sound system in the auditorium," reported Matt McCarthy, the school district’s Supervisor of Music and Performing Arts.

Auditorium seats were also replaced by bleachers but the enthusiasm remained high for the spectators who took in this splendid event.

The conductor of this fine unit of scholastic students is Hsiao-Yu Lin (Sherry) Griggs, who is the Orchestra Director for the high school.

She, too, was overwhelmed by the overflowed crowd who witnessed this entertaining concert.

"It was so amazing to see a full house at the Bridgewater-Raritan High School gym," Griggs proclaimed. "I am extremely proud of all of the orchestra students. Starting with the student volunteers who helped set up the performance location to class officers write their own speeches for the audience, the orchestra students went above and beyond to present a very successful Winter Concert."

McCarthy was among the spectators who enjoyed the show and appreciated how the students are instructed by such a devoted director.

"Our student musicians really provided a joyful start to our mid-year concerts," McCarthy said. "Ms. Griggs and the students really rose to the occasion. Ms. Griggs’ expertise in developing teamwork and synergy in student musicians was reflected in their performance and in the way the students quickly transformed the gym into a concert hall like a well-oiled machine."

Griggs, in turn, was thankful for all of the contributions and assistance that she and her students received.

"On behalf of the Bridgewater-Raritan High School Orchestras, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the support of the Bridgewater-Raritan High School Administration, VPA Supervisor, Mr. McCarthy, district music staff, and the fantastic orchestra parents. Our next Performance will be the CJMEA (Central Jersey Music Educators Association) Orchestra Festival (February), District Fine Arts Festival, (May) and the Spring Concert (May). We look forward to sharing more beautiful music with the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District Community."

Click below to watch and listen to a clip of Ms.Griggs conducting during this wonderful concert.

BRHS Winter Orchestra Concert Dec. 6, 2023

This press release was produced by the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.