Voice and Confidence: Halloween Concert 2025

This year’s edition of the Halloween Concert, a fall tradition that takes place after our Halloween Parade, featured a joyful mix of musical selections, performed with enthusiasm by Lower School students in Grades Pre-K - 2. This year’s concert was notable as it was the first major musical performance organized by new Lower School Music Teacher Lauren Notas, a talented and experienced musician who brings fresh perspective and energy to our program. The stage was set this year as students gathered in their colorful costumes, chatting with one another and waving to their families in the audience, who gathered in the Trustey Family Theatre to show their support.

The concert began with a lively piece called ‘Shake Them Skeleton Bones’, which focused on movement and included students from Pre-K all the way up through Grade 2. Next up was ‘Five Little Witches’, performed by Pre-K and Kindergarten, a nursery rhyme which brought excitement and laughter from our young performers. From there, the performance took a turn, as Grade 2 students sat down at the array of xylophones of different sizes at center stage, and the audience was treated to a read-aloud of the book ‘Room on the Broom’, a modern day Halloween classic, from Grade 4 student Elle F. Next up was an Irish folk dance called ‘Sweets of October’ performed by Grade 1, and finally, the concert finished up with a heartfelt performance of ‘Me and My Mummy’ by Grades 1 and 2, a heartwarming song and dance which brought loud applause from the audience.

Students were eager to get up in front of the audience, which consisted of their families and classmates, and perform the songs they’ve been working on, with Grade 2 students specifically looking forward to the opportunity to be leaders on stage. Developing a student’s voice in front of an audience early on lays the groundwork for confidence on stage and in public speaking situations down the road. “I’m so excited to be on stage and sing, because I love to sing and I think I have amazing vocals!” said Ruthie Z., “I really like ‘Me and My Mummy’ because the notes go from really low to really high, which can be hard, but it’s not hard for me!” Her classmate Alex R. was excited for another reason, saying “I’m so excited to sing and wave to my parents! It’s so fun to see them at school, and we’ve been working really hard”. Welcoming families to campus and allowing students the opportunity to share their work is a quintessential example of what it means to be a member of the Shore community.