It’s the end of the school year, and the various musical, choral and stage productions at Highlands High School have been wrapping up. The results have been stunning, especially given the constraints of the pandemic. The school’s concert band, stage band and jazz ensemble delivered jaw-dropping performances akin to college-level proficiency. And the school’s production of “Mamma Mia!” brought full houses to their feet.
The Highlands community is beyond lucky to have a musical education department that delivers such success. Music at this level involves science, mathematics, practice, hard work and dedication. It is tantamount to mastering a foreign language. It develops social skills. It teaches teamwork. Music students tend to excel in other areas: academics, athletics, community involvement. And they carry these skills into successful careers.
Six members of the Highlands High School Class of 2021 will be music majors in college; how many hundreds of students’ lives will they enrich as future music educators?
Matthew Beresik, chair of the district’s instrumental music department, ends performances by facing the audience and saying, “These kids behind me are your future leaders.”
He’s right.
Bill Allan
Plum