By Elizabeth Connolly
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Walpole High School’s (WHS) Tri-M Music Honor Society performed at the Walpole Public Library where a crowd that gathered for in the community room. WPL’s Program Coordinator Nikki Cataloni was very welcoming and had thoughtfully set out some bags of popcorn, as well as some coloring sheets and crayons for the younger audience members.
The seven WHS Tri-M Music Honor Society musicians in attendance, who ranged from sophomores to seniors, performed a wide variety of songs. The pieces ranged from a selection from composer Gustav Holst to “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”, made famous by Judy Garland, and Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years”. They played their instruments - three violins, a viola, two cellos, and bass - for about an hour.
“It was nice,” a senior citizen said as she was exiting the library. “And I was surprised by how many little kids were in the audience and how interested they were! They were adorable.”
The Tri-M Music Honor Society, previously known as Modern Music Masters, is an American middle and high school honor society. In fact, it is the only one in existence, and was created to offer appreciation for, as well as directorship and community opportunities to, young musicians. It was founded in 1936 by Alexander and Frances Harley, who initially developed the program specifically for Illinois high school students. The members performed at nursing homes and community events, and were one of the first school clubs to hold canned food and clothing drives to help those less fortunate. Since then, Tri-M has grown throughout the U.S. and even internationally, in countries such as Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand. The entrance requirements can be strict, as students are expected to maintain high averages in both academic and music classes, plus be both currently taking a music course and personally recommended by a faculty member.
This program was sponsored by WPL. The library offers a wide variety of programs and events, such as this one, for all ages. A full list can be viewed at www.walpolelibrary.org
