Salem Stories

Salem students rehearse a scene from The Sound of Music on stage at the Seifert Performing Arts Center. On February 1 the Salem Performing Arts Department's production of The Sound of Music will open at the Seifert Performing Arts Center. Salem Stories spoke with some of the key directors and performers as they prepared and rehearsed for four public shows. The musical fits the district's educational philosophy of providing opportunities for students to put their classroom learning to the test in real-world situations.

Guest Conductor Dr. Robert Franzblau worked closely with select band students from nine area high schools on the stage during the Granite State Invitational Festival at the Seifert Performing Arts Center.  Salem musicians and singers hosted classmates from eight area schools for a day of music, collaboration, and learning at the recent Granite State Music Festival. The event, hosted in Salem for the first time, is part of Jared Cassedy’s vision of elevating the program beyond the traditional classroom setting. “It’s important for all students to experience music from different perspectives,” explains Cassedy, Director of Salem K-12 Performing Arts and the Seifert Performing Arts Center. “We want them to think beyond the notes and the rhythms on a music sheet to the meaning and passion behind the music.” Boston Children's Chorus Director Anthony Trecek-King (right) leads festival chorus students in warm-up exercises prior to getting started for the day. To that