Eliot Symphonic Band & Chorus to Perform at Two Upcoming Concerts

Editor's note: this article is written by Jared Eliot Middle School student Miles Waterbury.

Have you ever heard about the Great East Music Festival?  The Great East Music Festival is an opportunity for music ensembles to perform for professional judges in a non-competitive setting. On two separate days in May of 2013, the Jared Eliot Middle School band and chorus will be participating at the Great East Music Festival at Six Flags New England in Springfield, MA.  The author is fortunate enough to participate on both days because he participates in both the Eliot band and chorus.

Could you imagine an excellent Eliot chorus member doing chores and slack work to go towards a great experience at Six Flags? Well, Eliot chorus members are defraying the cost of their trip by doing so. The chorus will be attending the festival on Friday, May 3rd 2013. Approximately 48 students, directed by music and choral teacher, Mrs. O’Neill, will be participating.  They will be starting off the day performing at the Morgan High School in front of a group of judges.

After the performance at Morgan the chorus will board a First Student bus to Six Flags.  The judges at Six Flags will be grading the chorus on ensemble diction, vowel placement, phrasing, breath support, dynamics, blend, expression, and articulation. They will be ranked on a scale of bronze to gold and will receive a plaque for the school. The cost for each student will be $55.00, which will include transportation and entrance to the park.  I am sure that the chorus will plan on bringing their “A” game to represent Jared Eliot Middle School as well as the Town of Clinton.

Do you think a candle could support a musician to travel to Six Flags? Well that is possible at the Jared Eliot Middle School. Eliot Middle School students will be making another trip to the Music Festival the following week but this time with the Symphonic Band, under the direction of Mr. Tucker, which is consists of 7th and 8th graders. The band will be attending the festival on Friday, May 10th 2013. 

Since the band has approximately 60 students involved, including instruments and chaperones, they will be travelling to the festival by coach bus and the cost will be $85.00 per student.  The band will actually be involved in a fundraiser selling candles for the holiday season. 

The fundraiser will run from November 12th through November 28th.  If you know any Eliot Symphonic Band members that will be participating in the festival, please support them by purchasing a candle to help with the cost of their trip.  At the Music Festival the band will be judged on ensemble playing, phrasing, dynamics, blend, articulation, and expression.

If you want a sneak peak at what the Symphonic Band and Chorus will be performing at the festival, please come out to support them at the Winter Concert on Thursday, December 13th at 7pm in the Gagnon Auditorium at Morgan High School.  Hope you can come and support us and cheer us on at the music festival too.  For more information go to www.greateastfestivals.net.  GO EAGLES!!!

Important Dates To Remember:

Fundraiser for the Great East Music Festival trips: now through November 28, 2012

Winter Concert: Thursday, December 13, 7pm, Gagnon Auditorium at The Morgan School

Great East Music Festival: May 3 and May 10, 2013, at Six Flags New England in Springfield, MA