It is said “a world without music would B-flat,” but in Riverside School District 96 the music teachers have seen to it that students receive a well-rounded appreciation of the subject.
And now students, parents, families and friends will have an opportunity to get an appreciation of just how talented those who teach music in District 96 are when the music faculty holds its annual recital on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Hauser Junior High auditorium, 65 Woodside Road.
Patty Gill, the District 96 music teacher who originated the recital 25 years ago, said she never thought the recital would be going strong after a quarter century. Gill emphasized that the “kid-friendly” recital gives children a chance to see their teachers as performers.
“We see them and ask them to do things,” she said. “Now they can see us.”
Each year the recital has a theme, with this year’s being “Music Dictionary,” with performers explaining the fine points of the pieces, which are both instrumental and vocal.
Lending their talents to the recital are vocal teachers (and sopranos) Jane Lauritsen and Laura Lynch and baritone Bill Howes. Meanwhile, the instrumental musicians include Jim Colombo on French horn, Jessica Twohill on clarinet with Patty Gill playing piano and cello. The closing piece will include all the musicians and singers performing together.
Admission to the recital is free and open to the public, but donations — which will be used to provide scholarships in the names of Leonard Babb and Bruce Perryman — are accepted.
Babb was a longtime instrumental music teacher who encouraged his students to get to school before classes started to practice with different music groups. Perryman is remembered for his love of music, for working with students in various vocal groups and the yearly Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, which were a longtime tradition.
The success of the faculty recital can also be attributed to what Gill says is the support of the community for the music program. For many students, school is an introduction to performing music, and many continue on and some even becoming inspired to be one of the next generation of music educators — maybe even performing in a District 96 faculty recital someday.
A reception sponsored by the district PTOs and PTAs will follow the recital. For further information call Hauser Junior High School at 447-3896.
