Riverside Elementary’s Choir and Orchestra Concert Brings Two Communities Closer

On Monday night, Riverside School’s gymnasium was overflowing with parents, relatives and friends eager to see their little ones perform. Whether in the orchestra or in the chorus, all the children put on a show that encouraged smiles and warmed hearts.

This show in particular had an added significance for both the young singers and their teacher, Jessica Punchatz. This time, Riverside Elementary was visited by students coming from the Museum Magnet School in New York City, a good distance from Greenwich.

Riverside School’s spring concert took on a special note. Music teacher Jessica Punchatz, with the help of her students, arranged for students from the Museum Magnet School in New York City to travel to Greenwich and perform alongside her students. Credit: Katie Lawrie

Months ago, seeing that the Museum Magnet School didn’t have a choral music program in place, Ms. Punchantz had begun a choir in their community to offer that opportunity to 3rd – 7th graders who’d never sang in a group before. According to her, they have since come a long way, and it shows through their excitement and confidence. Since Ms. Punchantz is the choral teacher for both choirs, each had been learning the same pieces at the very same time. They’d been sharing their progress with each other by sending video and audio recordings back and forth for some time, and were eager to meet each other at their final concert of the year.

Seeing that the New York City students weren’t in a position to purchase tickets to come from the city to Greenwich, however, the Riverside students were not discouraged. Each reached into his or her allowance and together raised over $200 dollars with parents’ support, and were able to bring the chorus from New York City to their school for their concert.

The end of the program proved a very emotional time for Ms. Punchatz, as she was able to watch both choruses sing alongside each other for the first time.

She hopes that this bond will build a continued outreach program between the two schools that will foster The Riverside School’s norm of “caring for self and others.” The students are extremely proud of what they have done for each other and the experience has hopefully taught them the capacity of music as a universal language able to bind together two distinct communities.