Inaugural event: All Town String Concert wows crowd

Welcome to ArtsBurlington, the source for information about the arts in Burlington Massachusetts.

There is no better day and no better way to kick off this blog as Burlington Public Schools celebrates the first annual All Town Strings Concert, held tonight in the Fogelberg Performing Arts Center of Burlington High School. 

4th through 8th grade string players on stage of Fogelberg Performing Arts Center.

It all started five years ago with a pilot program in two elementary schools that introduced the violin to a few eager young players. The program, implemented by John Middleton-Cox, Director of Music/Performing Arts for Burlington Public Schools, began with that handful of students and  has since grown into a program of 182 string players who span from third to ninth grade. What began with a single string teacher has grown to three: Nathan Samulak, Jennifer Rzasa and Rebecca Schauer, who all took their turn as conductor at this evening's performance.

What a proud moment to enter the auditorium and see the entire stage and first three rows of seats filled with string players, and a majority of the seats in the Fogelberg Performing Arts Center filled with eager parents and grandparents, all with cameras and cell phones at the ready to capture the evening.

The evening's concert consisted of the combined third grade players performing "Hot Cross Buns" and "Au Clair de la Lune," followed by the fourth grade in "French Folk Song" and "Ode to Joy" (Ludwig von Beethoven). Along came "English Round" and "Theme from New World Symphony" (Antonin Dvorak) by the combined fifth grade strings, and finally the Middle School players in "Habenera" from Carmen (Georges Bizet) and "Uptown Funk" (Bruno Mars, arr. Michael Story), featuring Mya Koffie on voice and Tony Mathew on drums.

The finale combined all students in grades three through nine in "Strings Will Rock You" (Queen, arranged by Jennifer Rzasa).

The All Town Concert Series (Band, Strings and Chorus) have been designed to showcase the music students who have worked hard all school year to learn their instrument. It is the perfect opportunity for parents to see and hear where their students are heading or where they've been. 

Fogelberg Performing Arts Center was filled with parents and relatives.

Ultimately, the program will develop through the high school grades and boast a complete ensemble of accomplished string players.

ArtsBurlington is thrilled with tonight's All Town String Concert and know you will agree:

THE ARTS ARE ALIVE IN BURLINGTON!