Springs School performers have had a busy month. Middle schoolers have been rehearsing for the musical “Moana,” which they will perform for the community tonight at Guild Hall, and student musicians had a chance in January to perform at the Hamptons Music Educators Association Music Festival at Southold High School.
“Moana” is directed by Sandra Vecchio, Dylan Greene, and Laura Marino. The seventh grader Isabelle MacPherson has the lead role, and the eighth grader Lucas Gonzalez plays the role of Maui. The cast worked hard for three months to get things perfect for the stage. Show time is tonight at 7. Students are especially excited to perform at Guild Hall.
Asked why she chose to participate, Julia Stillman, a sixth grader who is one of the stars of the show said, “I enjoy performing, singing, dancing, and acting . . . and we have a lot of fun along the way.” When asked what her favorite part of the play is, she said she liked that even if a student doesn’t have a large speaking part, they are still onstage for a significant amount of time. She also added that the directors make sure students have a great time while rehearsing.
A few weeks ago, on Jan. 18, students from Springs joined with student musicians from all over the Hamptons for the HMEA Music Festival. Four Springs students performed in the band, three in a world drumming group, and eight in the chorus. To prepare for this uplifting event, they learned their songs in school with their music teachers, but they only came together to practice with the conductor three times.
The music teachers Benjamin Jones and Dylan Greene helped the students by getting them excited and ready to perform. They reminded the performers they would be proud of them no matter what, and this helped them overcome their stage fright.
It’s an honor for students to perform at this music festival because they need to qualify first. These young musicians had to have scored high enough in the New York State School Music Association event during the month of March of the previous year in order to participate, and they must also be enrolled in their school’s chorus, band or orchestra. For world drumming, students have to be recommended by their music teacher.
Julia Stillman also participated in the H.M.E.A. Festival, and even had a solo. She said she was overjoyed to find out that she would get a solo in a song called “Can You Hear.”
“It was a great learning experience and I learned a lot about ways to improve my technique.”
By Saoirse Quinn, Callie Grimes, and Sophia Schuerlein, Grade 6