“We’re all here for two reasons — because we love to make music, and because we’re recognizing the importance of this cause.”
By Krista Cerminaro
Last Tuesday, sounds of the violin, clarinet, flute, trumpet and other instruments filled the Investors Bank Performing Arts Center at Washington Township High School. It was music to the crowd’s ears — and all for a noteworthy cause.
The Tri-M Music Honor Society — an intergenerational community orchestra, as Tri-M advisor Judy Pagon would describe it — performed a benefit concert for Orchard Valley Middle School student Sherice Garcia, who has been battling acute myeloid leukemia. Garcia has been at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia since Christmas, according to OVMS principal Colleen Cancila.
“As I say to the students, this is, to me, what music is all about — being able to use your gift of music for something as important as this,” Pagon said. “There’s a variety of people here, and we’re all here for two reasons — because we love to make music and because we’re recognizing the importance of this cause.”
Proceeds from the benefit concert, from admission to concessions, will assist the Garcia family offset the financial burden they’re facing.
Cancila, accompanied at the show by Garcia’s guidance counselor Natalie Marakowski, explained the seventh grader was diagnosed with three malignant tumors in her stomach last fall, after experiencing stomach pains. Garcia, who plays the violin, was given clearance to return to school mid-May, after a year of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.
“To our jubilation, she was happy, healthy, enthusiastic and ready to learn,” Cancila said. “Sadly, during winter break, she was complaining of a headache. Her parents returned to CHOP, which is where she has been since. At that time, Sherice was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.”
Garcia has been undergoing chemotherapy at CHOP, unable to leave the hospital or see her friends, according to Cancila.
Pagon noted her chapter of Tri-M, which is an international music society, is comprised of musicians ranging from eighth graders, to high school students, to Rowan University students — all the way up to members in their 70s.
“There are chapters all over the country, and all over the world,” Pagon explained. “It’s primarily service-oriented, so it’s an opportunity for music students to use their music to provide service to the community.”
The performance was Tri-M’s fourth annual benefit concert since Pagon — who also directs the orchestra program at WTHS — and her former student, Jacob Heil, came up with the idea four years ago.
“It had always been my dream to have a symphony orchestra in this school,” Pagon said. “[Heil] had the brilliant idea to make it a benefit concert, which gave it so much more meaning. So, he and I really did the first one four years ago through Tri-M, and everybody loved it, so now this is the fourth annual event.”
Pagon said orchestra members freely devoted hours of their time to the performance.
“One of the reasons kids are willing to participate in it is because it gives them an opportunity to come together for something really important,” Pagon said. “This district always rises to the occasion when somebody is in need. Truly, this district is really all about service and helping others. It’s a really important part. It comes from the administration, I think, and through the teachers — and then to the students.”
