DEWITT -- The halls are alive with the sounds of music for music appreciation week at Christian Brothers Academy.
To welcome peers, staff and teachers into school, students have been stationed in front of the main office, playing instruments and singing so that those who are walking into school can get a feel for the various musical ensembles at CBA.
Teachers say it's important to showcase the talents of students to show the integral role music can play in education.
Bob Caraher, Choral Director at CBA, says playing music helps get students into colleges, and in many cases, playing and even listening to music enhances their overall educational experience.
"It's been a lot of fun, I think the students here are exceptional," says Muriel Bodley, Orchestra Director at CBA. She's helped the CBA string program grow since its inception five years ago. "they're exceptional in their work ethic, in the fact that they want to make music. They want to make music, and they think music is important in their life."
Bodley says when the string program started, there were only seven students in the group. Today, the organization is twenty members strong.
This year, the band, chorus, and orchestra are playing in various competitions around the state, including the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Major Organization Festival in Skaneateles.
This marks the first time in 113 years that a CBA music group has participated in the NYSSMA Competition.
