Vernon high school orchestra rehearses with pros

SPARTA — The Vernon Township High School Orchestra, under the direction of Jennifer Krott, participated in its fourth annual side-by-side workshop with members of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra on Friday, Nov. 21.

The students traveled to Sussex Tech, where they watched the NJSO perform "The Musical Time Machine" from its Concerts for Young People series. After the concert, the VTHS orchestra rehearsed one of its own pieces, "The Barber of Seville Overture," with Maestro Grogan and members of the NJSO. The VTHS orchestra will perform this piece as part of its spring concert line-up next May.

During the rehearsal, the students sat next to a professional musician and had the opportunity to not only discuss the piece they were working on, but also individual instrumental techniques.

"Working with Maestro Grogan and the NJSO continues to be an amazing educational experience for both the students and me," Krott said. "It is wonderful to see the NJSO musicians actively mentoring our students and to see both the NJSO and VTHS Orchestra performing together. I am continually impressed by the progress that our students make during the hour-long rehearsal. We enjoy discussing what we've learned and look forward to implementing the techniques into our own rehearsals."

— Photos by Gale Miko