Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Rockville Centre UFSD eighth-grade spring concert spotlights student ensembles
Loading...
Summary
Southside Middle School students performed band, orchestra, wind ensemble and chorus pieces at the Rockville Centre Union Free School District eighth-grade spring concert; district leaders, parent volunteers and student soloists were acknowledged and one senior represented the district in an external theater competition.
Assistant Principal Maria LaSorsa opened the Rockville Centre Union Free School District’s eighth-grade spring concert at Southside Middle School, asking the audience to observe safety exits and silence phones before introducing the district’s arts leadership and board members.
The concert featured the eighth-grade band, orchestra, wind ensemble and chorus, with students performing a mix of classical and contemporary pieces and several soloists highlighted by their directors. “Thank you so much for being here in support of our incredible students and their very, very hard working teachers,” said Mrs. Mark, the district’s director of the arts, acknowledging teachers and district leadership in the audience, including Superintendent Matt Gavin and Board of Education President Kelly Barrett. Trustees Dr. Donna Downing and Tara Hackett were also in attendance.
Directors and teachers named multiple student soloists during the program. Miss Tomek, who worked with the wind ensemble this year, identified solos including Cole Bernstein and Patrick Cahalan on trumpet and Riley Manteria on flute; she also listed Ryan McMahon (flute), Ellie Clancy (piccolo) and Nora Tarpy (flute) among featured performers and noted that Rowan Schafer played drum set when the repertoire required it. The program also included students who participated in the district’s solo-and-ensemble festival; those students were asked to stand during the concert and were recognized by staff.
Parent volunteers and the district’s sponsor groups were acknowledged for fundraising and support. An announcer asked the audience to visit a lobby table where a parent-run organization was selling items to raise scholarship funds for students in art, music and theater.
The program included recognition of a senior representing the district in an external theater competition. The announcer said the district was “so proud” of Connor Stack, a senior in Manhattan competing in the Roger Rees Awards at Symphony Space for his role in the High School production of Newsies.
Logistics for family pickup after the concert were announced: orchestra students were to exit upstairs to the cafeteria, concert band to Room 120 and the wind ensemble to Room 118; parents were asked to wait for students to exit the stage before leaving.
The evening closed with thanks from music staff to families and a send-off for the eighth graders as they transition to Southside High School. “It has been a wonderful journey from sixth grade to now,” a teacher said, urging families to continue supporting students’ participation in music as they move to high school.
