Return of Live Music

By Ken Veit, Supervisor of Visual and Performing Arts

A year after school concerts were curtailed and canceled because of COVID-19, this December the RSD Music Department took its first steps back towards giving students the chance to perform once again. The bands and choruses at both Smith School and RHS were able to perform live, in-person, evening concerts in front of limited audiences and with several other safety precautions in place. However, none of the restrictions could dampen the enthusiasm of the performers and the appreciation of the audiences. 

Amazingly, after two years of concert cancellations, these Winter Concerts were the first formal concerts for our 6th and 7th grade band and chorus students. These students have demonstrated amazing adaptability, perseverance, and self-direction, as they have learned to sing and play their instruments under extremely difficult circumstances over the last two years. Their performances were amazing, which reflects the hard work of students and teachers alike.

A major factor helping our middle school music students succeed this year is that the music program moved into the new music wing at Smith School. This state-of-the-art facility provides rehearsal spaces for both large and small ensembles, is equipped with proper sound and recording systems, and is acoustically treated so that our students sound their best. Perhaps most importantly, the new wing gives the music program at Smith a facility to call their own. As one student said, “I love that we now have our own special place in the school.” Facilities truly do impact learning.

We hope to continue bringing back more performance opportunities for our students as safety considerations allow.