The young students set the tone from the start, and the older students followed their lead.
The opening round of the 2026 Festival of the Arts, the signature event for the Visual and Performing Arts program in the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District, was launched with the Choral Concert on the evening of Tuesday, March 24.
The Vaughn Stapleton Gymnasium at Bridgewater-Raritan High School was jammed with not just the choral students but also a large audience of staff members, families and friends.
The 4th Grade Festival Chorus from the seven primary schools kicked off the concert series, followed by the combined Eisenhower Intermediate School and Hillside Intermediate School Festival Chorus. Both groups delivered splendidly.
The Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School Choir was next up, and those artists were equally impressive.
A duet song was performed by Aditi Dhara and Evan Andrews, two of the leading characters in the Bridgewater-Raritan High School Theatre Arts' upcoming production of The Little Shop of Horrors. Aditi and Evan sang "Suddenly, Seymour," a performance that rightly deserved the loud, long applause they received when they were done.
These two gifted senior students will next star on stage when the spring musical is presented from April 16 to 18 at Bridgewater-Raritan High School.
The Combined High School Choirs followed the suit of their younger colleagues and produced a brilliant performance
A blessing from all of the combined choirs capped a spectacular evening.
Matt McCarthy, the Supervisor for Arts Education for the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District, served as the master of ceremonies.
“What a phenomenal start to our 2026 festival concerts. Every ensemble blew me away. It was a great night,’ Mr. McCarthy declared.
The Festival of the Arts continued with the Orchestra Concert on Wednesday, March 25, and the week concluded with the Band Concert on Thursday, March 25, both at Bridgewater-Raritan High School.
The fourth and final leg of the Festival of the Arts will be the Visual Art Exhibit, which will be held on Thursday, June 4, at the high school cafeteria.
Here are short video clips of the High School students who performed.
Bridgewater-Raritan High School Choirs and Duet performances at the Festival of the Arts
Click on the link below to gain access to the program for the Choral Concert