Music in Our Schools Month (MIOSM) is an annual celebration taking place in March which engages music educators, students, and communities from around the country in promoting the benefits of high-quality music education programs in schools.

To celebrate MIOSM, we selected one student from each grade level to discuss what music means to them. Next up is sophomore Brooklyn Lott and freshman Cece Stryker. 

When did you both first get involved with music?

BL: My first musical was when I was in the third grade and Cece was in the second grade, and that was Les Misérables. They had some younger roles, and we have both been doing that ever since. And then I’ve done chorus all the way through and Chorales.

CS: I’ve been involved with music as long as I can remember. Like Brooklyn said, we started with Les Misérables. And I’ve been in band and chorus since the fourth grade. I play the clarinet in band. And this year I started Chorales.

What would you both say is your favorite part of being involved with music at Moravia High School?

BL: It’s just very rewarding to me. Whether it’s putting on a musical production or performing at the concerts, I just think it’s a very rewarding feeling after we perform. 

CS: I really enjoy the people. Everyone is so nice, and it’s great to work with everyone. It’s a great way to build relationships.

BL: I totally agree with that!

How much fun is it to perform in those MIOSM Concerts that feature students from throughout the district?

BL: I think it’s really cool to have everyone together. And the song choices are so important, like when we choose something really empowering, and then we all perform that together. And then just thinking about those fourth graders and their parents and knowing that they will be back in that same gym six years from now performing in that same concert. It’s really cool.

CS: It’s really fun to get to watch the younger students and high school students perform together. It shows how much we grow throughout the years. It’s just a lot of fun.

Let’s talk about the musical! Let us know what character you played and how you feel the performances went.

BL: So, I played Regina George. And it was actually harder than I thought it would be to play the “mean girl.” Ms. Kufs would keep saying, “You need to be more mean.” And she was right! You really do start to understand that you need to be dramatic when you’re performing a character like that. And then rehearsals and the productions are just something I look forward to each year. It’s just so much fun rehearsing with everyone. And yeah, we’re nervous, but also you get to rely on your cast mates who you’ve practiced with for three months.

CS: I played Gretchen Wieners, and it was a lot of fun to just run around frantically playing this silly character. And it’s just so much fun to be a part of the musicals. It’s my favorite time of the year. I just like being around all the other people who are doing it as well. It’s a great way to get to express yourself.