Tamaqua Area to celebrate Music in Our Schools Month

March is celebrated nationally as Music in Our Schools Month and is sponsored by the Music Educators National Association. The purpose of this month long celebration is to make everyone aware of the important role that music has in the development of a student's overall development

The Tamaqua Area Middle and Senior High Schools will be celebrating this event in a number of ways.

As the overture to the month of March, the high school vocal music department will be participating in the annual Schuylkill County Chorus Festival. The festival will be held on March 2-6, with a Saturday afternoon concert of music from classical to pop. The public is invited to attend the 2 p.m. concert at Tri-Valley Area Junior-Senior High School Auditorium.

March 9-13, 20 members of the 'Raider' Band will participate in the 35th annual Schuylkill County Band Festival to be held at Blue Mountain Area High School in Orwigsburg. The public is invited to attend the 1:30 p.m. concert. Chris Evans will serve as the festival's host.

On March 19, three eighth grade 'Raider' Band members will travel to Broughal Middle School in Bethlehem for the District 10 PMEA Intermediate Band and Orchestra Fest. This festival band and orchestra will present an evening concert and will feature middle school age students from across the seven county District 10 area.

On March 19-20, the TAHS Drama Club will sponsor their interpretation of "Willie Wonka" in the school district's Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets will be sold.

March 25-27 will find Drew Bonner and Lauren Ward representing Tamaqua in the 2010 Region V All-State Band to be held at Gettysburg High School. Region V Band encompasses band students from high schools from a 13 county area of south central Pennsylvania to the Pocono mountain area of the state, combining the best from Districts 7 and 10. The students qualified from an intense audition at the District Band in February.

The Vocal and Instrumental Departments will also present their first early spring joint concert on Tuesday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m, in the school district's Center for the Performing Arts.

On Wednesday, March 31, the Music Educators National Conference will welcome new members into its prestigious Tamaqua HS Chapter Tri-M Music Honor Society with a morning induction ceremony.

These events are all in addition to the usual high school and junior high school choirs, marching, concert and jazz band rehearsals preparing for the later planned spring concerts, parades and choral adjudications.