BCSD Elementary District Ensembles Wow Crowds During In-School Performances

“I like learning from other students who know things that I don’t know yet,” said Mount Kisco Elementary School cellist Charlotte Dershowitz.

Charlotte and her talented peers in Bedford Central School District’s Elementary Ensembles had just played a special performance for students at Pound Ridge Elementary School (PRES). Like Charlotte, many of her fellow elite performers enjoyed the challenge of the district ensembles.

“We’re doing harder songs than we would be doing in regular chorus,” said West Patent Elementary School singer Kaylee Vitkowski.

“In the ensemble, I can challenge myself,” added Stella Stirn-Blake, a Mount Kisco Elementary School violinist.

PRES students excitedly cheered their peers on, and some could even be seen doing a little dancing in their seats as they listened to the orchestra, band and chorus numbers.

“Music is really interesting because it can tell a story and it can show emotions,”
Dr. Mike Mulder said before the band played a song about the roar of the brontosaurus.

When the orchestra played one of their songs about a sword fight, music teacher Jamie Ring asked PRES students to pay attention to which sections were the loudest and the softest during certain parts of the song. The audience delighted in choosing winners just as much as the musicians enjoyed playing.

“Sometimes violins and violas get to do a battle or a solo and it’s so much fun,” Janita Nieves, a violinist from Mount Kisco Elementary School, said.

When the chorus took the stage, their enthusiasm was apparent in the way the singers could not help but sway along to the songs and belt out lyrics with emotion.

After the performance, student musicians showed real pride in their work.

“I like how we all work together to make good music,” said Jack Maduras, a West Patent Elementary School student who plays the saxophone.

The district takes great pride in its ensembles as well.

“The elementary district ensemble program in the BCSD is a big part of why our arts education has been consistently recognized as outstanding,” said music and performing arts coordinator Matt Vanacoro. “Students who excel in performing ensembles are given a chance to collaborate with their peers from other elementary schools, perform music at a higher level, and learn about what it’s like to go ‘on tour’ with a performing group.”