The first crucial step towards maintaining a sound foundation in the Bridgewater-Raritan High School‘s highly regarded Choral program was demonstrated on Friday, January 30.
The Bridgewater-Raritan High School Choral Department served as a host to a workshop for High School Mixed Choir students and Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School 8th Grade Choir in the High School auditorium.
The day was coordinated by Lisa Rotondi, the Bridgewater-Raritan High School’s dedicated Director of Choirs. The visitation also brought in a highly acclaimed college professor, Dr. Nicholas McBride.The guest instructor/conductor is the Chair of the Music Education Department at The College of New Jersey.
“Dr. McBride describes his visits to Bridgewater-Raritan as a homecoming of sorts, as he completed his undergraduate student teaching with Dr. Fred Ford at Bridgewater-Raritan High School many years ago,” said Ms. Rotondi, an alumnus of TCNJ.
Ms. Rotondi shared the day’s activities.
“During our morning clinic, Middle School and High School singers joined together for two pieces of repertoire chosen to shine in a setting with so many young people.”
And Ms. Rotodi happily reported that the newly refurbished auditorium was packed with students.
“225 in all.”
The audience also included Choral Directors Gabriel Hingelberg from the Middle School, Tony Sgro from Hillside Intermediate School, Madison Kaminsky and Christine Nevill from Eisenhower Intermediate School, as well as numerous other performing arts directors and teachers from the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District.
“It is my hope that not only did her current students have an enriching morning with a special guest conductor, but that the 8th Grade singers felt excited to become a part of our program here at Bridgewater-Raritan High School,” Ms. Rotondi stated. “One of our strongest assets is the community we foster here, both of musical excellence and camaraderie.”
This event was the third and final visitation partnership between the music programs of Bridgewater-Raritan High School and Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School this year, which was held at Bridgewater-Raritan High School.
The Band program from both schools joined together on January 16, and the two schools’ Orchestra students performed on January 28.
Here are some short video clips from the dual performances of the Bridgewater-Raritan High School and Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School on January 30.
BRHS-BRMS Choir Workshop video 1
BRHS-BRMS Choir Workshop video 2