Lead / Create / Contribute
235 Hope Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724  /  732.542.4777

Seventh and Eighth Grade Students Participate in Princeton Symphony's Listen Up Program

On Friday, January 17, Mrs. Swiatocha and Mrs. McCarthy met 7th grade students: Alexander Holt ‘25, Lucas Yanney ‘25, and Krishna Khetani ’25 along with 8th grade students: Seth Tolchin ‘24, John Welch ‘24, Sophia Lennon ‘24, Parsvi Shah ‘24, and Kevin Mortenson ‘24 at the Princeton Arts Council to participate in a workshop for the Princeton Symphony’s Listen Up Program. 
 
Students met 27-year-old composer, Saad Haddad, who discussed his inspiration for his piece.  They brainstormed through visual art with other pieces he composed as he discussed his process of writing music.  He illustrates first, then composes.  
 
Then, braving the snowy weather on Saturday, January 18, Mrs. Swiatocha and Mrs. McCarthy met students and parents at the Princeton Symphony to hear Scheherazade along with Haddad's Clarinet Concerto performed by Kinan Azmeh, a Syrian-born, NY based clarinetist and composer who Haddad met at Juilliard.  Azmeh is also a member of Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble with whom he was awarded a Grammy in 2017.
 
Students will create an artistic or written response to the Clarinet Concerto under the mentorship of Mrs. Swiatocha and Mrs. McCarthy over a few months.  Their final piece will be published in a book along with being displayed outside Richardson Auditorium on Princeton University's campus on March 22 and will be moved to the Arts Council of Princeton for display from March 24-April 20.  Mrs. Swiatocha will mentor 7th grade students:  Alexander Holt ‘25, Lucas Yanney ‘25, and Krishna Khetani ‘25.  Mrs. McCarthy will mentor 8th grade students: Kevin Mortenson ‘24, Parsvi Shah ‘24, Seth Tolchin ‘24, and Sophia Lennon ‘24.
 
This is Mrs. Swiatocha's 6th time participating in this program and Mrs. McCarthy's second time participating. Below is a link from last years’ program.

Back

Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777

Our mission is to know and value every child, nurturing intellectual curiosity and confidence, and inspiring students to lead honorably, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society.