Concerts Mark Return to Live Music for BMS Students
BOURNE — Superintendent Kerri Anne Quinlan-Zhou and principal Christine Borning are pleased to announce that Bourne Middle School students will be presenting a set of live concerts this week, the first such performances since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A band concert will be held featuring performances by each of the school’s three bands and a chorus concert will be held featuring performances by the school’s three grade-level choirs and the select choir.
The band concert will take place starting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 9. The chorus concert will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 10. All concerts will take place in the Bourne High School auditorium.
Current eighth grade students have only been able to perform one live concert during their middle school years so far, and sixth and seventh graders have yet to perform on stage in front of a live audience during their time at BMS.
Band and chorus students performed virtually for families last year.
Band students will be performing a variety of folk songs for those in attendance.
“We are so excited and proud to share all of the incredible hard work that our students have been putting in behind the scenes,” music teacher and band director Ben Haskell said. “COVID guidelines have barred students from learning and playing instruments over the past two years, but our dedicated students have collaborated together to triumph over the presented challenges. We are so glad that music is once again filling the halls of BMS.”
There are approximately 245 students in the BMS choral program, in addition to the select choir ensemble. Students sing a wide variety of selections, from musical theater and movie soundtracks to spirituals and traditional choral selections.
“We encourage families to come and see these shows because this is the first live concert for BMS since January 2020 and the excitement of the students will be very evident,” music teacher and chorus director Rebecca Salgado said. “We have so much talent between the band and the chorus, and it means a lot to be able to show that talent off once again.”
The concerts are free and open to the public. The district requests that attendance be limited to two audience members per family.
“Getting back to in-person concerts is so exciting for our entire school community,” Principal Borning said. “There is a buzz around these performances, and about returning to in-person events in general. Ms. Salgado and Mr. Haskell deserve a lot of credit for keeping their music programs going these past few years. They got creative and made it work. It says a lot about how much it means for these kids to keep making music despite all of the obstacles the pandemic created.”
Added Superintendent Quinlan-Zhou, “Bourne has a long tradition of providing a stellar performing and visual arts education for our students. We are thrilled to be able to welcome families and friends so that they can witness this excellence and share in the joy of live musical performances.”
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