On October 12th, 2023, select students from Morgan Band and Chorus traveled to Valley Regional High School to participate in the Shoreline Music Festival.
Once a year, band and chorus students from the surrounding high schools including Coginchaug, Cromwell, Hampton, HK, Hale-Ray, North Branford, Lyme-Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland, Valley, and Westbrook gather together to each perform four pieces of music they learn prior to the concert.
The first rehearsal took place on Wednesday, October 4th. Students left school early to be introduced to the songs they were to perform on the following Thursday. Students in the chorus were introduced to the choral director Carolina Flores, and band students met director of the band, Andrew D. Pease. It is clear that both are extremely passionate about their love for music.
Dr. Flores is a Professor of Music at CT State Community College Manchester. She has led countless choirs in the past, including tours in Austria, The Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, and Spain.
Dr. Pease is an Associate professor of Music and Director of Instrumental Music at Hartwick College. He runs two websites dedicated to music of the wind band: Wind Band Literature and Wind Band Symphony Archive
On Thursday, October 12th, the students met one more time to rehearse before their big concert at 7 o’clock. Starting at 1, the band and chorus worked tirelessly to perfect their pieces of work, only taking short breaks in between.
When the clock hit 7, chorus members filled into the audience to perform the four songs they have been working on, which were “The Song We Sing”, “Tipitin”, “Peace I Leave With You”, and “He’ll Make a Way”. Shortly after they finished, the band took the stage, performing “Halcyon Hearts”, “Rhythm Stand”, “Some Treasures are Heavy with Human Tears”, and “American Riversongs”.
Morgan attendees enjoyed this opportunity. “I enjoyed meeting new people and learning fun music,” remarks senior Sara Morrissey. She is a member of the band, and she decided to come back to Shoreline Music Festival because of how much she enjoyed it in the past.
“I love Shoreline Music Festival,” said senior chorus member Leah Scoppa. “It was a great way to work with others who are talented singers along the Shoreline and learn new music.” She is sure to miss it next year.
All in all, it was a great experience for Morgan students to meet and interact with students from other schools. and they were able to enjoy what they love in a different environment than the Morgan stage.
