Schools

Chimes, Strings, Voices Envelop Washington Avenue

Parents, teachers, staff gather to watch third-graders show off their musical skills at the school's holiday concert.

Chatham's schools became mini-concert halls for part of the past few weeks.

As per holiday tradition, students at the School District of the Chathams' high school, middle school and elementary schools performed a variety of musical shows in the days leading up to Christmas. A jazz ensemble from the middle school showcased its work Dec. 9, and Chatham High School's chorus performed the next day.

But there were many more elementary school shows. At all four Chatham elementaries, each grade level hosted its very own concert. And on Dec. 17, Washington Avenue's third-graders came out to strut their stuff.

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They did not disappoint the packed house that came out to watch them, whether they were operating chimes to produce an etude in G or singing a two-part harmony for "Up, Up Up in the Sleigh!"

"It makes you want to stand up and sing a little bit," said grandfather Tony Pondillo, who came from Clifton Park, N.Y. to watch his grandson perform.

The students had prepared all school year for the concerts; some took up the violin so they could go on stage for the show. The scene at the third-grade concert was a festive one as parents snapped photos and took videos of their smiling, singing children. The children returned the favor by coming on stage, singing a variety of Christmas and Hanukkah tunes and occasionally dancing along with the music.

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The concert featured the aforementioned strings ensemble, as well as a choral group and a chimes ensemble. For the concert's final act, all the third-graders came out together to sing songs such as "Lights of Hannukah" and "Naughty or Nice?"

"Oh, they were so adorable," cooed one parent as the concert drew to a close. "He was so expressive!" said another as she spoke about her son's performance.

The third-graders projected a certain amount of confidence during the show, proving the dictum co-strings director Suzanne Bass set forth as the concert began.

"They're a little bit nervous, but they're going to be fine," she said. "For many of them, it's the first time they have played a musical instrument."

Every seat in the auditorium was full, and the aisles were lined with parents documenting the scene.

For Principal Mary Quigley, the concert went beyond pure entertainment. Learning how to play and sing music at an early age will help the children in their future development, she said, and parents and grandparents who attended the ceremony said they agreed.

"For me, as a principal, when you know them starting in kindergarten and see them today, you really enjoy the growth," Quigley said.

Along with Bass, co-strings director Milan Milinkovic, chimes director Tracy Roskam, vocal director Veronica Shaw and piano accompanists Grace Foca and Mary Lonergan were in charge of working with the children in preparation for the concert.


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