The Montauk School’s chorus and jazz band had a sweet time at Hersheypark last weekend, sweeping first place in the Music in the Parks competition and earning excellent ratings for their performances.
The 34 students — and most of their musical instruments — rode the Hampton Jitney to Pennsylvania. School Superintendent Josh Odom drove the drums down.
“It’s such a special weekend. The students sounded great and were excited to perform,” he said. “Our participation rates in select ensembles have tripled since we began competing in Music in the Parks. We’re extremely pleased that our students are eager to engage in the arts; it’s a big part of our mission here at Montauk School.”
About 20 schools competed in the music festival, which Montauk has participated in for three years. The students have won prizes before, but never quite like this.
“This is the first time both groups have won as much as they did. The feeling was electric,” said Jake Lorefice, a music teacher who led the trip along with his colleague Shawn Ward.
The school’s select chorus, better known as Sound Waves, performed two songs — “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer and “You Will Be Found” from the musical “Dear Evan Hansen.” They won first place for middle school treble choir and were also named best overall middle school choir.
The jazz band performed The theme song from “Sesame Street” and an adaptation of “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” by the Cannonball Adderley All-Stars. They won first place in their division, and Angus Ring, a pianist, was named outstanding middle school jazz soloist. (Thankfully, Mr. Odom did not have to drive a piano to Pennsylvania. The park provided one.)
The entire trip was free of charge for students, thanks to the efforts of Montauk’s Parent-Teacher Association and Atlas for the Arts, a nonprofit that raises funds to support young musicians, artists, and actors. The organization donated $5,000 to help defray this year’s costs.
Nancy Atlas has been involved with the Hersheypark trip since the very first year, in response to a request from Mr. Ward.
“Three years ago, I raised over $20,000, and I basically went to Shawn Ward and asked him if there was anything he ever wanted to do,” she said. “His answer was that he had always dreamed of doing a Hersheypark trip. The first year, it was just the jazz band, and for the last two years, it’s been the jazz band and Sound Waves.”
Montauk School received $10,000 of that initial $20,000 and has been getting assistance from Atlas for the Arts ever since. The entire community is extremely grateful for the support.
“I have to extend a huge thank-you to the Montauk School P.T.A. and Atlas for the Arts. Their fund-raising efforts ensure every child in the program can participate in the weekend,” Mr. Odom said.
In between performing and winning, the students were able to enjoy the amusement park and all of its rides.
“On the first roller-coaster of the day, we got the entire school in one car. It was a dueling roller-coaster, so we had one with all the kids and one with all of the parents,” Mr. Lorefice said. “It was a blast. We had such a good time.”
The fun didn’t stop when they left Hershey. The students were celebrated with a Montauk Fire Department escort home on Sunday, a surprise for the kids.
“We had some members of the Fire Department on the bus, and they made some phone calls when we were driving home,” Mr. Lorefice said. “The kids were stoked. We didn’t tell them until it was happening.”