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This year’s Grammy awards will be handed out to the professionals on Sunday, Jan. 26.
However, the Grammy Foundation will announce the finalists for the Grammy Signature Schools program in mid-March. Finalist schools will receive a custom award and a monetary grant ranging from $1,000 to $15,000 to benefit its school’s music program.
“Our district views exposure to an experience in fine and performing arts as an essential part of a student’s development,” said HCSD Superintendent Louis Wool.
Harrison High School performing arts students in band, chorus, and orchestra (along with a reinvigorated dance program) work to create a complete concert experience twice a year. However, the individual disciplines often compose performance opportunities outside of the district’s confines.
Last December, the Harrison High School marching band represented New York at the 71st annual Pearl Harbor Day parade in Honolulu, Hawaii and performed at the 50th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor Memorial ceremonies.
The marching band has represented Harrison consistently in the UBS Stamford Balloon parade and the New York City St. Patrick’s Day parade as well as many local Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day parades.
The chorus and orchestra programs recently competed at the Heritage Music Festival in Boston where they received gold and silver accolades.
Small ensemble performing opportunities such as the Renaissance Festival with the madrigal singers, and cabaret nights at local Westchester restaurants.
The band, chorus and orchestra (as well as the dance program) will be traveling to Disney World in Orlando, Fla., to perform at Disney's parks and gain instruction through targeted workshops from the world renowned performers in April.
The orchestra program, now in its ninth year, is an example of a dedicated program first implemented in the elementary schools, fostered in the middle school, and nurtured through the four years of high school.
“By the time our performing arts students reach the high school level, they are more than capable of and willing to tackle complicated and richer pieces of music and genres,” said HHS Band Director Charlie Briem.
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