Pictured with their strings and bows, the CHS Honors Strings Ensemble, from front left: Alison Silvestri, Paulina Edel, Carla Silvestri, Crystal Ann Lagria, Camille Gomera-Tavarez, Adriana Hernandez and Sky Carter. Rear from left: Dante Hatcher, Dhruv Mehta, Paul Bury, Alejandro Aquije, Patrick Bury and Ethan De Rose-Travia.
The CHS Honors String Ensemble is an elite group comprised of talented violinists, violists and cellists. These 13 students dedicate their time Tuesdays after school preparing for various performances scheduled for the year.. Since the beginning of the school year, the group, under the direction of long time music CHS teacher Natalie Babiak, began preparing for holiday performances, here in Clifton and beyond. For instance, they have performed at the New Jersey State Botanical Garden at Skylands in Ringwood, as well at various receptions at the Clifton Arts Center. Last summer some members of the CHS Strings performed at a Clifton elementary school and demonstrated to younger children how rewarding it is to play an instrument.
Students pictured are not only in the Honors String Ensemble, they are members of Tri-M, the Music Honor Society, the international music honor society for middle/junior high and high school students. Tri-M is designed to recognize students for their academic and musical achievements, reward them for their accomplishments and service activities, and to inspire other students to excel at music and leadership. A few of these students, Harry Termyna, Wendy Timana and Mercedez Zea, are also members of Key Club, a community focused extra curricular group at CHS, and will be performing for pediatric patients at Giggles Theater in St. Joseph’s Hospital. On Dec. 18 at 7:30 pm, the CHS Honors String Ensemble, along with other String students and the Madrigals will perform Vivaldi’s Gloria on the JFK stage at CHS. Clifton Merchant • December 2014
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