The present and the future formed together to produce a magnificent performance.
The stage and the front area of the stage in the Bridgewater-Raritan High School auditorium were filled with an estimated 165 orchestra students on the morning of Wednesday, January 28.
This gathering was not a concert with an audience but rather the annual 8th Grade Orchestra Visitation Day. to Bridgewater-Raritan High School.
The Bridgewater-Raritan High School’s Concert Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra–a total of 85 musicians—played along with their guests, the 8th Grade orchestra students from the Middle School, who totaled 80 musicians.
The day began with a tour of the music wing, led by the high school members who walked with the 8th-grade guests. The 8th Graders then played, followed by the high school’s Concert Orchestra, and then the Symphony Orchestra.
Then they merged into one large—and very talented—group to perform "An Ode to Joy Festival" under Hsiao-Yu Lin Griggs, the Bridgewater-Raritan High School Orchestra Director.
“This is our biggest recruitment of the year. We are enticing the 8th Graders to pick a music course for the coming year,” Ms. Griggs explained the reason for this event. “They come and see the end product and perform on our stage.”
Caty Butler, who serves as the Middle School 8th Grade Orchestra Director, applauded Ms. Griggs and her invitation.
“This is amazing. What an opportunity for our students to play with their peers and get to meet Ms. Griggs, who is so great,” Ms. Butler said.
Ms. Butler was joined on the short trip by her fellow Middle School colleagues—7th Grade Orchestra Director Tim Nuzzetti, 7th Grade Band Director Barron Caromano and 8th Grade Band Director Dr. Ashlen Udell.
After their splendid team performance, there was a question-and-answer session.
Then the devoted high school students who showed off their program and assisted their younger visitors, and the enthusiastic 8th Graders, were all rewarded with a social party that featured pizza and beverages.
From there, the 8th Graders hopped back on the bus for the quick ride back to the Middle School.
This session is one of the three visitation days when the Bridgewater-Raritan High School Music Directors serve as the host to the Middle School musicians and directors.
The Band held its visitation day on Friday, January 16, and the Choir will open its doors on Friday, January 30.