The Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District’s annual Festival of the Arts brought together student voices of all ages on March 24 for an evening of music and celebration in the Vaughn Stapleton Gymnasium at Bridgewater-Raritan High School.

Fourth-grade, intermediate, middle school, and high school singers performed on the gymnasium’s bleachers in front of the large audience.

The event began with Matthew McCarthy, the school district Supervisor for Arst Education, delivering an inspiring speech on how the beauty of the arts can get us through the hardships of life. During his speech, he encouraged younger students.

“Even though life is scary sometimes, especially when things feel out of your control, it’s hard to feel scared when you’re singing,” he said. Afterward, the high school choir sang the national anthem.

The fourth-grade choir started off the event with the piece “The Moon” arranged by Andy Black. All fourth-grade students independently learned the piece at their schools, then came together to sing it for the festival. 

After their outstanding performance, the Hillside and Eisenhower Intermediate choirs presented their repertoire. The 5th and 6th Grade students from both schools came together to perform two songs. They sang “Ad Astra”, a Latin piece arranged by Jacob Narverud, and “High Flight,” arranged by Rollo Dilworth. 

Next, the middle school choir performed two pieces. They sang “Little David Play on Your Harp” and “Modimo”. “Modimo” drew enthusiastic attention from the crowd, attributed to the seventh-grade dancers in the front who had choreographed their own routine. The rest of the choir also incorporated dance into their performance. They were conducted by Gabrielle Hingelberg, the choir teacher at the middle school. 

To conclude the event, the combined high school choirs performed three songs. They sang “Tyger” by Elaine Hagenberg, “Dravidian Dithyramb” by Victor Paranjoti and “Water Fountain” by Nathaniel Brenner. 

After each choir performed their pieces, all the choirs united to perform the final song “Blessing” arranged by Katie Moran Bart, as part of a longstanding tradition.

In the intermission between middle school and high school, Aditi Dhara and Evan Andrews sang “Suddenly Seymour” from Bridgewater-Raritan High School’s spring musical, “Little Shop of Horrors”. The musical will be performed on April 16, 17, and 18. They are two of the leading actors in the spring musical.

Lisa Rotondi, the high school’s Choir Director, was overjoyed with the Festival of the Arts this year.

“I was thrilled with everything about the festival. The energy was high, students were focused and having a great time, and, as always, the most exciting part of the Festival is watching the progression of student voices from fourth grade to high school. The most special moment for me has always been ‘Blessing’, watching our seniors standing at the end, and I know it will be really memorable for everyone,” she said.