In Sunday’s (4/22) New Haven Register (Connecticut), Alexandra Sanders writes, “Some Wilbur Cross High School students said they had never seen string instruments on Cross’ stage until last week, when they had the opportunity to fill the auditorium with orchestral music in collaboration with Madison band students. The ‘workshop performance’ was the culmination of the Webster Bank Music Exchange, a program that allowed Daniel Hand High School students and Cross students to train with New Haven Symphony musicians. Ninety music students performed together last week for the first time after rehearsing individually. Cross lacks a strings program, so Madison strings students joined them to create an orchestra. Jeffrey Klaus, regional president for Webster Bank and a former student at Cross, said not only would the program create a cross-cultural experience, but it would give them the opportunity to receive ‘world-class instruction’ with professional musicians. The workshop performance was led by William Boughton, music director and principal conductor for the New Haven Symphony. … The kids didn’t just get a taste of collaboration with other students and an advanced musical repertoire, they dove head first into a professional music experience. … The students, clad in black and white and framed by red velvety curtains, played ‘Saturday Night Waltz’ and ‘Hoe Down’ by Aaron Copland as parents listened intently.”
Posted April 24, 2012
