By Crystal Hayduk
Local senior citizens reveled on St. Patrick’s Day with live music courtesy of Beach Middle School’s (BMS) Fiddle Club, under the direction of Nathan Peters, director of the middle school orchestras.
Fiddle Club members, who play a variety of instruments including violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, djembe, and cajón, performed twice on March 17, the date that commemorates St. Patrick and celebrates Irish culture.
Fourteen eighth-grade members of the club spent their lunch time playing for an enthusiastic audience of more than 70 at the Chelsea Senior Center (CSC), said Jennifer Smith, CSC’s assistant director. The music was a special addition to the March birthday celebration, hosted by Silver Maples.
A St. Patrick’s Day performance by eighth-grade Fiddle Club members has been a tradition at CSC for the last eight years—with the exception of 2020 at the start of the pandemic. “In 2021, when the pandemic was still impacting student field trips and visitors to [CSC], Mr. Peters worked with us for members to enjoy a gig via zoom,” said Smith.
Peters said the annual performance at CSC is an independent project for the older middle school students. Together, they choose the music, arrange the set, and rehearse with their student leader. This year’s leader was Samantha Bieber; parents Bethany Bagbey, Brian Bieber, and Michelle Gregory assisted students with midday transportation.
That evening, 40 Fiddle Club members in fifth through eighth grades, Peters, and the club’s three high school cadet teachers (Austin Copenhaver, Megan Hayduk, and Sonja Schemahorn) played a concert in the chapel at the Chelsea Retirement Community (CRC) to a standing-room only crowd.
Christin Bieber, Samantha’s mother, said the audience seemed happy and cheerful during the concert, clapping along with the music.
“Many residents were able to connect with family and friends at the concert,” said Peters. “Everyone seemed excited to hear live music.”
A piece called “Around the Room,” in which students take turns playing solos and duets in a variety of styles, was a crowd favorite.
“We loved playing at CRC on St. Patrick’s Day and would like to make it a tradition,” said Peters.
The Fiddle Club also performed at the fifth- and sixth-grade orchestra concert at Chelsea High School on March 22.
Matt Ceo, BMS principal said, “Nathan Peters is always looking for different and exciting ways to promote the talent, creativity, and hard work of his students. The result is a robust middle school orchestra and Fiddle Club with buy-in from the entire community. Nathan and his students continue to expand what we think is possible for orchestra in middle school.”
