Over 140 fourth and fifth grade students met on Friday morning, April 19th for the district’s 25th Annual Junior Recorder Festival. Each year since 1994, music students and their teachers have gathered to perform for each other and play combined numbers, all using their recorders.
Before its use as an educational instrument, the recorder was very popular in the Renaissance and Baroque eras. Several songs from these time periods were performed at the Festival, as well as folk songs, opera overtures, and popular music (such as a song by the Beatles). As is tradition, the Festival finale was a rousing rendition of “Ode to Joy” by Beethoven.
This year’s host school was Ellen Browning Scripps Elementary School (music teacher Tom Waczek), and their students were joined by musicians from Dingeman Elementary School (music teacher Garner Saguil) and Crown Point Junior Music Academy (music teacher Anna Hradsky).
This is a non-competitive event and is open to students of any age. The Festival is free for participants and for audience members. If you would like your school to participate next year, please contact Laura Williams, Music Resource Teacher.