Hudson Reporter Archive

The sound of young music Clarendon School Winter Holiday Concert at the Performing Arts Center

Clarendon Elementary School fourth, fifth and sixth graders, along with eight Hubert Street School students, filled the Arthur Couch Performing Arts Center on Wednesday night with holiday songs from around the world, as well Be-Bop and other spirited music. Concert Band Director Sean Sonnett said the best thing about his job is “starting the kids off in fourth grade and seeing them through to their last year.” For the students, the band is more than showing their family and friends what they have accomplished musically. “Playing music touches a feeling in the heart,” said 10-year-old flutist Ruchika Mehta. Her mother Parul, a 7-year resident of Secaucus, said being part of the band gave her daughter, “more confidence in herself.” Choral Director Susan Redvanley said the students were diligent about practicing antiphonal singing and harmonies. She said the Music Program is optional. Chorus practices two times a week and the Concert Band practices four. “This is wonderful for my granddaughter [who is in the chorus] because it gives her a chance to express herself,” said Catrina Parrella, a 23-year resident. “She is singing all the time now. We even got her a karaoke machine.” It was the first time the students, over 150 of them, tested out the auditorium. There was an impromptu intermission when the fire alarm was tripped by mistake and everyone had to go outside for 10 minutes. But the happy hipsters did not miss a beat, and repeated the lilting choral song “Winter Starlight,” and then finished with their big Christmas song finale, “A Wreath of Carols.” “We have almost a quarter of the school involved in the music program,” said Clarendon Principal Deirdre Ertle. “It’s not fully operational yet – we’re getting a new sound system and lighting setup but we will have everything in place by the spring.”

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