Music class of Geraldine Cruickshank: A dedicated teacher inspires Central School students
Published on May 2nd, 2001
STONEHAM, MA - Young maestros of the Central School will debut their early work with the UMass Lowell Symphony Orchestra this Saturday.
Third-grader Nathaniel Choi and fourth-grader Sara Zavarelli are among 11 student winners in a statewide musical composition contest sponsored by the Massachusetts Conference of Music Educators.
“A Race to the White House,” a comical ditty about the 2000 Presidential Election, by Choi and “Wizard Wind,” a lyrical ode to nature, by Zavarelli will be performed by the UMass orchestra as part of a university sponsored Youth Composition Festival. The kids had to sign contracts authorizing the use of their songs because the concert will be recorded and the music distributed to raise money for a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering music education.
These children are nine and 10, and they’re putting out CDs.
“I just like to play,” Choi says.
The performance begins at 11 a.m. at the Fisher Recital Hall in Lowell, this Saturday, May 5.
“I’d like to become famous at something else,” Choi responds to questions about his future in music. “Music’s my hobby.”
Both Choi and Zavarelli play beautifully. A moment after they sit at the piano, music floats from their hands, filling the room.
“I love to play and to write,” Zavarelli says.
Mrs. Geraldine Cruickshank’s music class gives the children the opportunity to play, write, and learn to love music. She’s been at the William Street elementary school for 14 years, teaching singing, composition and instruments.
“At lunch some of the kids who want to work more on their music come down with their sandwiches,” Cruickshank says. “We were writing raps today about the movie ‘Titanic.’” She laughs, remembering the rhymes — There was a boy named Jack / then the boat got a big crack...
Six little song writers from Cruickshank’s hit-making studio penned the music and lyrics to “O What a Town,” which will serve as the theme song for the Central School Writing Festival at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2. The theme of this year’s celebration is the history of the Central School and Stoneham. At the event a chorus of more than 200 students will belt out “O What a Town.”
You can say that again.
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