Schools
Songcatchers Welcome Spring With Recital at St. Gabriel's
Hundreds turned out to listen and support the many area students who are just learning to play an instrument or to perform in front of an audience.
Some of New Rochelle's youngest musicians and actors performed at auditorium for their Spring Recital on Sunday. The children, some as young as 7 years old, are students with , a nonprofit organization that provides performing arts lessons and programs.
The recital featured about 100 young musicians from New Rochelle and surrounding areas The auditorium was filled with a few hundred proud parents and community members and more than 100 volunteer instructors, including area high school musicians
Matt Bialo, a senior at Mamaroneck High School, brought his group of young pianists on stage. He has been teaching music on a volunteer basis with Songcatchers for four years.
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“It’s really nice to see the kids get better as they get older,” he said. “I was fortunate enough to have lessons growing up, so I guess this is my way of giving back.”
Bialo explained that hundreds of students participate in the afterschool program once a week. Each day of the week is dedicated to a different type of musical instrument.
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“Depending upon the number of kids, we usually start off with a musical game for about half an hour, then break up into private lessons and finally perform in front of the group,” he said.
Ashley Cornelius, a New Rochelle High School junior and graduate of Songcatchers, is giving back to the organization. Every Thursday she teaches violin to elementary school kids. “It really is a wonderful experience,” she said.
Sister Beth Dowd, of New Rochelle, founded Songcatchers at Blessed Sacrament in 1979 to reach peace through music. It currently offers a summer choir camp, after-school music program, early childhood music program and concert choir and ensemble.
The organization provides music guidance to those who would, in many cases, otherwise not afford it.
“Here we are seeing from the very beginning students to those who are a little more advanced,” board of directors member Frank DiMarco said. “It’s inspiring to see kids appreciate music. All the kids and parents are here and they are off the streets. These are little kids but still, they have a place to go, they have a goal in mind, and they have something to work toward.”
