A fitting end to a spectacular musical series was provided by the student bands who thrive in the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District.
The Band Concert was performed on Thursday, March 27, when the third and final musical production of the Festival of the Arts, the showcase event of the highly successful Visual and Performing Arts program in the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District, was presented.
Bridgewater-Raritan High School’s Vaughn Stapleton Gym was on the scene for the third time when spectators jammed into the spacious arena to enjoy the final leg of the musical production.
The Choral Concert kicked off the Festival of the Arts on March 19, followed by the Orchestra Concert on March 26, and then band students from the intermediate schools, middle school, and high school played on the evening of March 27.
After a splendid playing of our National Anthem by the Middle School 7th Grade Band, the students of both the Hillside Intermediate School and Eisenhower Intermediate School joined forces under the guidance of their conductor, Jacob Ulm.
The Middle School 7th Grade Band then followed under the guidance of their conductor, Dr. Ashlen Udell. Their schoolmates then played when the Middle School 8th Grade Band followed the lead from their conductor, Barron Caromano. The Middle School Wind Ensemble then performed under Dr. Udell.
The final acts of the lively evening were provided by the high school musicians.
The High School Concert Band played under the direction of conductor Dr. Tom Bourgault. Then the High School Symphonic Band did not miss a beat when they performed under the guidance of Franklin Hansen, a student teacher, who delivered his own sound showing under the proud and watchful eye of his mentor, Nick Mossa, the high school’s Co-Band Director.
The High School Wind Ensemble provided the final two songs of the evening while Dr. Bourgault did the conducting.
Matt McCarthy, who is the spearhead behind this iconic Festival of the Arts in his position of the Supervisor of Arts Education for the school district, applauded the efforts of these very talented student band members as well as their teachers.
What a close to our trio of district-wide performing art events! This student musician showed up with world-class performances. Honestly, I am blown away by the sophistication of the material they delivered,” Mr. McCarthy declared.
He concluded:
“Long live Bridgewater-Raritan Band!”
The fourth and final show in the Festival of Arts will be presented on Thursday, May 22, when the visual Arts exhibit will be displayed in the high school cafeteria.
Here are the song titles, performing groups and the conductors during the Festival of the Arts Band Concert.
The Star Spangled Banner
Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School 7th Grade Band
Conducted by Dr. Ashlen Udell
Rise of the Falcon
Hillside and Eisenhower Intermediate School 6th Grade Band
Conducted by Jacob Ulm
Warriors of the 16th Empire
Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School 7th Grade Band
Conducted by Dr. Ashlen Udell
The Incredibles
Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School 8th Grade Band
Conducted by Barron Caromano
Odyssey for Percussion
Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School Wind Ensemble
Conducted by Dr. Ashlen Udell
Choreography
Bridgewater-Raritan High School Concert Band
Conducted by Dr. Thomas Bourgault
Flutter
Bridgewater-Raritan High School Symphonic Band
Conducted by Franklin Hansen, Student Teacher
La Terra Sacree
Bridgewater-Raritan High School Wind Ensemble
Conducted by Dr. Thomas Bourgault
The Belle of Chicago
Bridgewater-Raritan High School Wind Ensemble
Conducted by Dr. Thomas Bourgault
Here are short clips of the high school band students performing at the Festival of the Arts.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BP4Pxw_L6BgmDpyHcOBUR2Kf0D2AQ0S1/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HLeZBOfR7d2W9ib_rD0GpigJjwKj6Lam/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/16rV3rhRVXLDnK5FHaC2q5lFtCoQ6VZSV/view?usp=sharing