The Music of Spring (Via High Street)

The High Street Music Company has occupied this space at 135 High St. in Pottstown for 10 years now.

Yesterday Pottstown's own High Street Music Company held its Spring Recital at The Hill School's Center for the Arts, as it has for the past several years.

It will be the last time my son Dylan and his fellow seniors perform there as they are headed off to college next fall.

There were more than 30 performances so forgive me if I limited the videos I shot to those involving my son or classmates of his whom I have have known for years.

One of the things I have always liked about the recital is it features students at all stages of accomplishment and those students range in age from the single digits to adults making good on a promise they made to themselves.

It is also a good example of one of the things that makes Pottstown such a special community.

The school takes students from all over, but many of the Pottstown students who attend do so with the help of the Phoebe Sine Trust, a source of funding left by a Pottstown family who loved music and helps to pay the cost of the lessons Pottstown children take there.

(Here is Pottstown student Julianna Roseo giving an awesome performance of a song from "Hamilton" yesterday.)



Frankly, we could not have afford the saxophone lessons without the help of the trust.

And as a result, of the trust, High Street Music and the excellent music program in Pottstown's public school system, our son lives for music (even when taskmaster and company CEO Louis Rieger pushes them harder than they are used to being pushed).

(Here is Rieger directing them on the Eddie Harris piece "Cold Duck Time.")



Dylan plays in the Jazz Band and in the pit during the high school's last two musicals and is now enamored of "Hamilton," which combines his love of American history with his unanticipated love for musical theater.

A few months ago, he was walking through the house whistling tunes from "Little Shop of Horrors," usually after one of the rehearsals.

But he also loves hip-hop, jazz and (with a little help from his aged parents), some rock and roll as well.

(Remarkable vocalists Adeenah Smith and Erica DeBlase joined the Jazz Ensemble for this Alicia Keys number, "If I ain't Got You.")



At every college he has considered, among the first questions he asks about is the music program and what opportunities he will have not only to play and perform, but to get lessons and improve.

His pal, trombonist Kyle Kratzer, has taken it one step further and is going to school with the intention of becoming a music teacher himself.

(Pottstown student Gary Oberholtzer has a bright future as a guitarist and here demonstrates some of his range with his performance of a piece by Rob Scallon titled "For That Second.")



And while my wife and I love music as well and played it for him as a child, I truly believe that it was this town, and the dedicated professionals and volunteers who do their work here, which most fostered this love for music, something for which we will be forever grateful.

(The High Street Music Company Rock Ensemble performs "House of Gold" by Twenty-one Pilots at the conclusion of the company's Spring Recital.)

High Street Music Co. Fall Recital at The Hill

The High Street Music Company’s fall student recital is quickly approaching. 

It will be held Sunday, Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. at The Hill School Center for the Art, 860 Beech St. in Pottstown.

According to director Louis Rieger, "the recital is a great opportunity for students to show off their hard work and for parents to see what their children have been working on. The recital will include many individual performances as well as performances by both our Jazz Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble."

Rieger added, "while not all of our students are in the recital, we encourage all students to come out and see their peers perform. We hope it will inspire all of our students to use the next recital as a goal to work towards." 

Tickets are $10 for adults and free for children and performers

Jazz Nite III is Tonight!

Jazz Nite III, featuring The High Street Swing Co., will be held tonight from 7 to 10 p.m. at ArtFusion 19464 at 254 E. High St.

Refreshments will be available for purchase, and the event is BYOB for those over 21.

Tickets are $10 (cash only please) and can be purchased at ArtFusion during regular business hours: Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There are still tickets available to this great concert. Any unsold tickets will be sold at the door on Saturday night. CASH ONLY.

PLEASE NOTE: There is a a strict limit on the number of tickets that can be sold . Don't be disappointed at the door -- buy your tickets now!

Patrons are asked to arrive 15 minutes before curtain time. 

Park in the large lot behind the building and come in through our back door. 

(For detailed directions please call 610-326-2506 or email us.)

Jazz Nite III is brought to you by ArtFusion and Cheapniteout Productions. This event is a fundraiser for our non-profit community art school.

ArtFusion is a federal charitable 501(c)3 non-profit community art school and gallery. The mission is to enrich the lives of the residents in the greater Pottstown area through the visual arts, regardless of ethnicity and economic situations. 

The goal is to spark creativity, build self-confidence and develop community bonds through education, mentoring and community service.

Learn more by visiting the web site at artfusion19464.org

The Gift of Music, Freely Given

Photo Submitted by High Street Music Company

Student Joseph Clevinger gets some trumpet instruction
with teacher Brian Langdon.

Blogger's Note: Did you know there is a way to ensure that low-income students in Pottstown can start to pursue their musical dreams at an early age?

Below is a (slightly edited) letter sent out to area teachers and submitted to the Digital Notebook by Louis Rieger, CEO of The High Street Music Company, which highlights the program, "Called Give the Gift of Music," and how it works.
 
I am proud to announce that The High Street Music Company (HSMC) has partnered with Give the Gift of Music Foundation.


Give the Gift of Music Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Pennsylvania corporation organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. They support musical education for eligible children by providing donations of musical instruments and/or scholarships for lessons at approved providers, of which High Street Music Company is one, who share our belief in the importance of quality musical education for all children.

Photo Submitted by the High Street Music Co.

Student Patricia Ross practices her flute.

Give the Gift of Music Foundation approved providers are professional musicians, composers, performers or musical educators whose primary occupation is musical performance, composition or instruction as evidenced by membership in or accreditation by one or more of the following: National Guild for Community Arts Education National Association of Schools of Music, or the provider is included in a listing of Private Music Instructors published by one of the following Pennsylvania Public School Districts: Great Valley, Methacton, Norristown, North Penn, Owen J Roberts, Perkiomen Valley, Phoenixville, Pottstown, Pottsgrove, Spring-Ford, Tredyffrin-Easttown, Upper Merion


Recipients of Give the Gift of Music Foundation awards or scholarships must be between the ages of 7 and 18 years of age and have both an interest in musical performance or composition and is in need of financial assistance to pursue further musical education or performance opportunities.

Determination of financial need is based on an evaluation of all employment and financial information supplied in the application form. To qualify, a recipient must have at least one custodial parent or legal guardian receiving any of the following:


• Federal or State Unemployment compensation

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)


We believe this is a great resource for our budding musicians.

Pottstown is fortunate to have a trust fund for the high school music students to utilize, but, unfortunately, it is limited to the high school.

This program enables assistance to be extended to the rest of our district. Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions. Lets make it happen ........... http://givethegiftofmusic.org/