NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—The New Brunswick High School Orchestra and Band will be performing a free holiday concert for the community at the city’s public library on Monday, December 15 at 4pm.

The program, which was planned by the NBHS Tri-M Music Honors Society officers, will take place in the New Brunswick Free Public Library’s Carl T. Valenti Community Room, located at 60 Livingston Avenue.

Students will play an arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s “Trepak,” a traditional French Carol “Il est né,” an arrangement by Michael Green called “Christmas Canon,” and medleys of Hanukkah songs, traditional carols, and secular Christmas songs.

The concert marks the first time that the NBHS Band and Orchestra will perform together outside of the high school.

According to orchestra teacher Marybeth Purcell, the students performing on Monday have prepared extensively for the event by attending classes before school, two rehearsals, and a preview performance for parents at December 11 parent-teacher conferences.

Many of the students found time to practice even while juggling other sports and study programs.

“They have shown their commitment [to music] by practicing in the early morning as well as after school,” Purcell said. “With limited time in the evening, this is challenging.”

Purcell says that participating in band and orchestra does more than just teach students how to play music–it helps them to develop emotionally, socially and academically.

“Orchestra and band classes encourage organization, self-discipline, and reinforces literacy skills,” Purcell said. “Research shows that students who play a musical instrument for at least three years show marked improvement in scores on tests such as the SAT.”

Purcell believes that the public will gain an important glimpse into the students’ passion for their instruments by attending the event.

“We hope that parents and community members will come away with a better understanding of the role of music in the lives of these students,” Purcell said.