Music echoes through halls of Portsmouth schools
The halls of Woodrow Wilson High School were alive with the sounds of music March 10 as three separate events validated Portsmouth Public School’s comprehensive music program.
Elementary students from across the division gathered for a final run-through of the All City Choral Fest, which they would perform the next evening at I. C. Norcom High School. “A Disney Spectacular” featured older Disney tunes unfamiliar to this generation, said Gwendolyn Jenkins, the school system’s music curriculum supervisor.
The choral fest included two groups: pre-K and kindergarten students and first- through sixth-graders. Choirs from each of the three high schools and Waters Middle School also participated. Though the final rehearsal was late in the evening, the youngsters kept themselves entertained while waiting their turn to take the stage.
The elementary practice time coincided with the regular rehearsal for Porte Towne Magic, formed in 2005 to offer top-level music education and performance opportunities to secondary students who are serious about the subject. The group averages about 100 students across three areas: the show choir, orchestra, and woodwind/percussion ensemble.
Practices are twice weekly, good grades are required and because they represent the school division during pubic events, good citizenship is mandatory.
The group always has a full performance calendar. In addition to city and school functions such as Portsmouth Schools Foundation events and the annual First Citizen banquet, the group has traveled to Richmond and Charlotte, N.C. Summer months are not off limits either. No matter where they perform, “They’ll be ready and they’ll be good,” Jenkins said.
The highlight of the Thursday evening was the Schools Orchestra Artistic Residency (SOAR) concert band program in which members of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra joined Porte Towne Magic’s woodwind/percussion ensemble for a spectacular two-part concert.
Virginia Symphony members Rachel Ordaz, Michael Byerly, Jacob Wilder, David Vonderheide, David Bruestle, and Michael Laubach began training and practicing with the student musicians last month. The two groups met when Porte Towne Magic was the opening act at a symphony program at Chrysler Hall in Norfolk.
The professional group was so impressed with the students’ skill and manner they applied for and were awarded a grant to work alongside the youngsters. The division’s music instructors received professional development training as well.
The concert featured a middle school and a high school performance, with guest conductors for each. Jeffrey Garris led the middle-schoolers.
Garris is band and orchestra director for the Williamsburg/James City County public school system, but he’s is no stranger to Portsmouth. He spent nine years as band teacher at Waters Middle and was music director and pianist for several local churches.
“Though we tend to focus on the SOLs, this is where life lessons are taught,” he said, pointing to the students behind him on the stage.
David Kreiselman directed the high school performance. The retired Armed Forces School of Music clarinet instructor is now the assistant director for the Norfolk Public School’s All City Jazz Ensemble. Westhaven Elementary School principal Ralph Snowden, a former band director whose children are music students, served as master of ceremonies.
The entire Thursday evening — from practice to performance — was a perfect demonstration of Music in our Schools month, the nationwide focus on music education held annually in March.
