There is no sweeter sound than that of the cheers of the audience after an impressive musical victory.
The students of the West New York Middle School have come out with a bevy of trophies from the annual Music in the Parks event held at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J, in May.
The West New York Middle School, who has attended the competition since 2005, walked away with first place in categories for the 7th Grade Mixed Choir and the Men’s Ensemble, both directed by Constance Arcilla. The 8th Grade Mixed Choir directed by Cynthia Varrichio also won first place.
The Middle School Concert Band, directed by Robert Garcia, won second place in their category. A total of 90 students from the West New York Middle School participated in the event.
The students have been preparing for the event for a few months, working hard to make sure they are properly equipped to compete with the other schools attending the event.
“We prepared after Christmas,” said Arcilla. “We prepare vocally with all of their music. We teach them music reading, tone quality, proper breathing all year to different songs.”
Practice makes perfect
The competition is stiff. Students from the West New York Middle School knew that preparation was the key to competing.
“We always worry because most middle schools have vocal music as a regular class elective for a full year and we only meet for short 20 to 30 minute rehearsals before and after school and sometimes even during lunch periods,” said Arcilla.
She added, “Some students join our music program after seeing the Christmas show. This gives us less time to vocally prepare them. Although we rehearse the Music in the Park show after Christmas, every time a student enters the room to sing we are working on vocal technique. The repertoire is not what develops their voices it is the singing lessons and technical guidance that do.”
The students also had to spend months working hard to raise the money necessary for the trip to the competition.
“The children are told after Christmas they must raise funding for the competition,” said Arcilla.
Each child had to raise $85 in order to get to the competition. Students sold foods like pizza, strombolis, and pretzels to raise the dough for the trip.
In 2005, the first year that the West New York Middle School participated in Music in the Parks, the 7th and 8th Grade Choirs won first and second place, respectively.
They were also awarded with the Esprit De Corps trophy, an award given out to the band that showed the best overall citizenship, behavior, and musicianship.
“The total devotion each singer gives in each performance really stands out,” says Arcilla. “When you are standing there before the judges or audience, you are without a crutch. It is sink or swim and they always give 100 percent at each performance.”
The annual Music in the Parks festival is the nation’s largest musical festival. It is held between March 15 and June 7. Over 180,000 students participate in the festival every year in 39 locations all over the United States and Canada.
“Participation in Music in the Parks or any Festival always brings pride to the performer and ultimately to the school,” said Arcilla. “This is a good cause for recruitment for years to come. As one of the judges said, ‘You may be too old to throw a ball but you are never too old to sing!’ ”
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