2000 - 2001 School Year In Review In August, we shared a once in a lifetime experience to perform for the President of the United States! President Bill Clinton arrived by helicopter at Crossroads School on August 23 2000. Mr. Ketterer and Mr. Strusz had two days to "find" our vacationing Jazz Band members, review band music and learn Hail to the Chief, which had to meet the White house standards before we were approved to perform it publicly. President Clinton wholeheartedly approved of our performance stating, "There are not many middle school bands in America that are as good as this one!" We also prepared for our annual performance at South Brunswick High School to welcome back all the teachers to their first day of the new school year.

In September, we welcomed 320 students into the band program, and established our third concert band, the Wind Symphony.

In December, the Jazz Band, Jazz Ensemble and Orchestra played for a full crowd at the South Brunswick Senior Center on the 8th of December. On the 18th, the Orchestra, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band and Wind Symphony performed for a standing room only crowd in the Crossroads Auditorium as we presented Music for A Winters' Evening. Eighth grader, Adam Saleh, received our Westminster Conservatory of Music Scholarship. The Music Department also wowed the entire student body in an assembly of the Winter Concert in the gym.

In January, seventh graders Pelu Tran and Joseph Wong successfully auditioned for the Central Jersey Regional Middle School Orchestra. The Jazz Band and Jazz Ensemble played for a packed house at the South Brunswick Senior Center.

In February, the Jazz Ensemble received a rating of "Excellent" and the Jazz Band received a rating of "Superior" at the Nottingham High School Jazz Band Festival. Tenor saxophone player, Marissa DiFiglia, and trumpet player, Chelsea Lepore both received outstanding soloist awards. In our fund raising efforts for Hershey Park, our music students sold and delivered 1,100 pizza kits!

In March, the Crossroads Music Department made their mark in the musical theater world as we presented The Pajama Game, including a pit orchestra made up of our own middle school musicians. You had to see it to believe it!

In April, the Jazz Band became the house band for the two performances of our third annual Crossroads Talent Show.

In May, seven coach buses, 345 students, staff and chaperone, and eight performing groups departed to Hershey, Pa., for our festival with Music In The Parks! The results are as follows: And, on June 8, the Orchestra, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band and Wind Symphony presented A Spring Celebration of Music to a large and lively crowd at South Brunswick High School. Seventh grader, Colin McGrory, received our Westminster Conservatory of Music Scholarship.

BACK       HOME       NEXT