Midleschoolers Excel on Stage at Competition

Laura Grant believes in the power music can have on the human spirit.

Grant, a first-year music teacher at George Washington Middle School has made the most of her time at the school.

“Music is universal. I want the students to appreciate music that’s made by different cultures all over the world,” Grant said.

Grant has her students listen to a variety of music this year, including music from Africa and many other foreign locations.

“I give them background for each song,” Grant said. “The African music we listened to has a lot of drums in it and I want them to understand why those drums make the music sound the way it does but why the people who created it decided to make it sound that way.”

Several musical groups received awards at the annual statewide Music in the Park competition at Six Flags Great Adventure held last month.

The following choruses earned awards at the competition:

• Eighth grade: first place, excellent
• Seventh grade: second place, excellent
• Sixth grade: first place, superior.

The Eaglettes, the school’s all-girls choir, earned a first place, excellent award and was name the best overall middle school choir.

Casey Gorab, one of the Eaglettes, was named outstanding solo vocalist.

The school’s bands were also successful at the competition.

The Symphony Concert, Jazz, and Sixth Grade Concert bands each earned a first place excellent award. The symphony band was named the best overall concert band at the competition.

Nick Vigiletti is the band teacher at George Washington. 

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