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BHS Performs at Fenway on Star Wars Nite

Jun 30, 2016 06:00AM ● By Pamela Johnson

On the playing field at Fenway Park

On Monday, May 9, the Bellingham High School band, the eighth-grade band and the color guard had the honor of performing at the pre-game ceremony at Fenway Park on Star Wars® Night. Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart was the guest conductor for the Star Wars® theme song played by the Bellingham Band; he also threw the ceremonial first pitch.

BHS Band Director Marie Forte had received an email in early September 2015 from the Red Sox organization asking if Bellingham would be interested in performing at a Red Sox game. Bellingham High School Band was selected from a pool of potential performers and they recorded the National Anthem unaware it would be sent to the Red Sox for approval. Bellingham music staff got final approval on their audition CD on January 4, 2016—a great way to start the new year.

Once they’d completed playing the Star Wars® theme at Fenway, the band performed the National Anthem, led by Band Directors Marie Forte and Bonnie Harper. The Bellingham Color Guard, grades 7 through 12, presented the American and Massachusetts State flags on the field that evening, coached by Bev Bajgot and Cindy Maxfield. There were approximately 1,058 group tickets sold to Bellingham community members for this game, and the game itself was a sold-out victory for the Boston Red Sox over the Oakland A’s.

“The opportunity to perform at Fenway was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our music students and staff,” said Forte. “We were honored to work with Mr. Lockhart; he was enthusiastic and warm—a true professional. The entire experience was amazing, from the soundcheck on the field to the full performance. Our students and staff are incredibly fortunate that we were able to perform on center field because it is not normally offered to school groups; it was a last-minute opportunity that was presented to us. We are extremely proud of our students, and thankful to the Bellingham Friends of Music, Bellingham Public Schools and all of the community members who came to support us,” she concluded.

To view a video of the Bellingham students’ performance, visit www.BellinghamMusic.org and click on Red Sox Performance, or visit the Bellingham Music Facebook page (facebook.com/bellinghammusic).Write your article here...
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