Hawthorn’s tradition of creating beautiful sound together is beginning another wonderful year in the Upper School music programme. Including choral and the option of string instruments, we are looking forward to performing regularly in school activities, fine tuning for the annual provincial music festival (CISMF), and the possibilities of launching an excursion and a recording.
Notably, we extend a warm welcome to new faculty member Mrs. Pappalardo, choral music teacher. She joins Mrs. Szalados, strings teacher, to begin our new year in music. Mrs. Pappalardo has met her first LS and US classes, taking the time to talk about the importance of singing in her life, teaching us about the impact of vocal warm-ups, and introducing us to a selection of new sacred music.
Mrs. Pappalardo calls singing a form of prayer and a way to raise our voices and hearts in praise and thanksgiving to God, making a pure sound to Him even when life is hard. ‘To sing is to pray twice’, she reminds us, quoting St Augustine. Enthusiastic about Hawthorn’s dedication to Classical Liberal Arts education, she affirms, ‘We need an education in beauty.’
We look forward to much magnificent music-making throughout this new school year. Welcome, Mrs. Pappalardo!