Last chance to see JHS music concert

For the past few years, people like Mayor Joseph Polisena have said that the Johnston Music Department produces some of the best student groups in New England. By way of three prolific performances in Williamsburg, Virginia, the JHS Music Department now ranks among “the most excellent groups in the entire Northeast when it comes to its Concert Band, Jazz Band and Select Choir.”

For the proud parents of those JHS students – and people who simply love music – tonight will be the last opportunity to see those three groups that are now being called “The Pride of Cherry Hill” perform live and in concert.

“This will be our last concert of the school year,” Matthew Gingras, a first year teacher with the JHS Music Department who has helped Director Ron Lamoureaux and Teacher Oliver Reid elevate the school’s rating and reputation to all-time highs, said. “The concert will feature our award-winning Concert Band, Jazz Band and Choir.”

The curtain will go up at approximately 7 o’clock and admission is only $5 per person. For that small stipend, people will see JHS music students in a number of roles that earned those three groups and individuals top marks in the recent Music in the Parks Festival in Busch Gardens in Williamsburg as well as All-State Honors in the Rhode Island Music Educators Association festivals that were held inside the The Vet in Providence.

The three JHS music groups, along with chaperones and adult leaders, spent the final weekend of their Spring Vacation racking up honors during the highly-competitive festival.

“Our final day was long and tiring, but our kids really shined through it all,” Gingras said. “We began with rehearsals then our Concert Band delivered its performance for the judges, followed by the Jazz Band and Select Choir.”

The next day featured all the student music groups from all over the Northeast “flooding Busch Gardens” as Gingras said, “waiting patiently to find out the results of all their hard work.”

Lamoureux, who continues to strive for excellence – and expansion – in all phases of the JHS Music Department, said: “All three of our groups received Excellent ratings. The Concert Band and Select Choir won first place in their respective categories and the Jazz Band captured second place.”

“I’m extremely proud of all three groups,” Lamoureux said. “Students were incredibly supportive and patience with each other as well as other school’s ensembles. A major part of our music department is to help young scholars become productive adults.”

During their highly-successful trip, which included dinner on a riverboat, touring the governor’s house and other dwellings in and around the colonial community, the JHS delegations met other student music groups during what Patrick Leonard, a senior and member of all three groups, called “my favorite trip ever and I couldn’t ask for better directors.”

Gingras, meanwhile, wanted it known that the JHS music students also received several other ratings during their trip, which was paid for by on-going fund-raisers such as car washes.

“We were extremely impressed with the students focus on a nearly 12-hour bus trip to Williamsburg,” Gingras began. “We received compliments everywhere we went on the on the behavior and positive attitudes of our students.”