Schools
Tri-District Concert Unites Musicians of All Ages
A tri-district helps acquaint middle school students with the opportunities they will have when they graduate and move on to high school.
Music students from three different schools came together on Friday for a concert with a purpose: to unite the older and younger musicians.
Music students from Knollwood and Forrestdale joined the musical talents of Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) for a tri-district concert. The collaboration gave the younger students an opportunity to perform with older, more experienced students.
“It’s a great opportunity for them to work together,” said Tracey Handerhan, principal of RFH. “This is the first transitional activity for the younger students before they come to school here.”
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The concert was a combination of jazz, chorus, orchestra, percussion and concert band. Each segment of the concert had a mix of students from the different schools. The last part of the concert joined together all the different students, instruments and voices.
Amanda Webster, senior at RFH, has participated in this concert every year since 7th grade. “I love performing with the younger kids,” Webster said. “I think it’s great when I see a younger student playing the same instrument as me.”
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Besides being able to perform with the older students, the younger kids got a chance to ask questions about the music program at RFH. After the concert, the high school students sat on stage and spoke to the younger kids about why they should continue music at RFH.
“I think the best part about this whole thing is that the younger kids get the chance to learn some new things,” said Avery Peterson, Junior at RFH. “This is a really great opportunity for a lot of these kids.”
After meeting and performing with some of the high school student musicians, the younger students feel more comfortable when they come to RFH. The concert allowed the younger students to get a taste of what the RFH music department has to offer for them the next year.
Vince Mottern is the vocal director for RFH and the general music and chorus teacher at Knollwood. “The kids get really psyched about this concert,” Mottern said. “And that’s the point. We want them to be excited about music and continue to pursue music at RFH.”
