SALEM – Students in the MSAD 58 string program have had a busy, fun and musically enriching spring this year.
Eleven students from the MSAD 58 Middle School Orchestra (along with one Stratton School student) participated in the Maine Music Educators District IV Elementary Festival on April 8. The festival was held at Mountain Valley High School in Thorndike. These students were nominated to participate in a one-day festival consisting of over three hours of intense rehearsal, culminating in a performance in the late afternoon. The string orchestra was made up of approximately 60 students from multiple schools in the surrounding area. The festival also included both a chorus and symphonic band.
Participating in the District IV Festival were students from the following schools:
Kingfield: Alice Cockerham, Ashlyn Sorel, Cade Tooker, Harrison Walters, and Guinevere Webster.!
Phillips: Alexis Ambroise, Ben Butterfield, and Jessie Quinonez.
Strong: Alejandro Fernandez, Mila Long-Frost, and Rowan Jellison
Stratton: Kagan Pillsbury
The Kingfield Seniors (a senior citizen group) invited both the Grade 5 Kingfield Elementary string students and the Mt. Abram High School Band to perform for them on March 10 at their monthly luncheon held at Webster Hall. The band was directed by Gail Russ. String students performed under the direction of their teacher, Graybert Beacham. Grade 5 Kingfield string students included: Cameron Walters, violin; Caleb Thibodeau, viola; Carly Wilson and Winter Ziehler, cello; and Myles McKenzie, bass.
After the Webster Hall performance, the Kingfield Seniors expressed an interest in visiting Kingfield Elementary School to hear the Grade 4 violin class. About 20 senior citizens attended the class on April 7, and the students enjoyed demonstrating their playing skills for the appreciative audience.
On May 4, the Juniper String Quartet from the Bangor Symphony performed for students from MSAD 58. They gave two performances, at both Strong and Kingfield Elementary schools. The concerts were sponsored by the Kingfield Pops. The Juniper String Quartet played a variety of music in order to illustrate the diverse sounds and styles that can be accomplished with an ensemble of this makeup (two violins, viola and cello). The informative and interesting educational concert was enjoyed by all of the students in the district. The 4th grade string students at Strong Elementary School were treated to an extra special opportunity by joining the professional string quartet in a rendition of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”.
Students involved in the performance with the Juniper Quartet were: Savannah Davis, Isabella Fernandez, Natasha Nichols, Emily Pillsbury, Damien Thurlow and Jeffrey Warnock. The students were prepared for their performance with the quartet by MSAD #58 string teacher, Graybert Beacham.
The district band students, under the direction of Ms. Gail Russ, will perform and march in the Memorial Day parade in Phillips at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 25.
The district band students will also perform twice on May 28. They will perform at 10 a.m. at Kingfield Elementary School and at 1:00PM at Phillips Elementary School.
On June 3, there will be a final concert of music ensembles at Strong Elementary School at 1 p.m. in the gym. Ensembles performing will include a chorus prepared and directed by Strong Elementary Principal Felecia Pease, and the MSAD 58 Grade 5 Orchestra, Middle School Orchestra, and Strong Elementary School Grade 4 Violin Class-all directed by Graybert Beacham. All friends, family and community members are invited and welcome to attend.
