The splendid sounds of an orchestra were heard and enjoyed when the second evening of the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District’s 2026 Festival of the Arts was presented.
On the night of Wednesday, March 25, at the Bridgewater-Raritan High School Vaughn Stapleton Gymnasium, the Orchestra concert followed the previous evening’s Choral Concert that launched the Festival of the Arts for this school year.
The 6th Grade Orchestra, which was composed of students from the Eisenhower Intermediate School and the Hillside Intermediate School, opened the performance.
The 7th Grade Orchestra students from Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School were next up and delivered a sparkling performance. The Bridgewater-Raritan High School Ninth Orchestra students followed with their terrific presentation.
The Middle School’s 8th Grade Orchestra continued this fine flow of music and then the two Bridgewater-Raritan High School groups, the Concert Orchestra and the Symphonic Orchestra, delivered a wonderful performance that capped the evening.
Matt McCarthy, the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District's Supervisor for Arts Education, served as the master of ceremonies.
“The 2026 Orchestra Festival was a great success,” Mr. McCarthy said. “As I mentioned in my opening remarks, this is a special program. I am very proud of these student musicians, and they should be proud to be part of our exceptional orchestra family.”
The three-day musical performances of the Festival of the Arts came to a close with the Band Concert on Thursday, March 26.
The fourth and final production of the Festival of the Arts will be the Visual Art Exhibit, displayed on Thursday, June 4, at the high school cafeteria starting at 6 p.m.
Here are short video clips of the performances by the Bridgewater-Raritan High School orchestra students.
Bridgewater-Raritan High School Ninth Orchestra
Bridgewater-Raritan High School Concert Orchestra
Bridgewater-Raritan High School Symphony Orchestra
Click on the link below to gain access to the Orchestra Concert program.