Side-by-Side Rehearsals Provide Blue Mountain Musicians with a Sneak Peak

More than 80 students from Blue Mountain Middle School visited Hendrick Hudson High School Wednesday to play their instruments alongside members of the high school band and orchestras. The rehearsals were led by high school instructors Benjamin Acrish and Lauren Morabito, who conducted the band and orchestra, respectively.

The annual tradition seeks to introduce the middle school musicians to all aspects of the high school music department. Not only do they have an opportunity to visit their future school, they experience the music rooms, learn under the high school instructors, and play shoulder-to-shoulder with high school students.

The entirety of the Blue Mountain eighth-grade band and orchestras joined teachers Katherine Filatov and Samantha Hecht for the visit Wednesday morning. A few dozen high school students who had free time in their schedules joined for the rehearsals, which, Hecht said, help to “build a bridge” between the middle school and high school programs.