The Calkins Road and Barker Road 8^th Grade Bands are teaming up for an exciting collaborative project with Herb Smith, a world-class musician and trumpet player with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. During this month-long collaboration, Mr. Smith will be a guest conductor and clinician who will guide and inspire students to enrich their understanding of music and learn new and different ways to perform music.

This unique collaboration will culminate in a spectacular evening performance slated for March 13, 2024, at 7 p.m. in the Calkins Road Middle School auditorium. The general public is welcome to attend this special concert sure to captivate audience members and showcase the collective talent of the participating students.

Drawing upon Mr. Smith's extensive background as a presenter of world music and jazz, the project’s primary objective is to foster a deeper appreciation for diverse musical styles and to provide a platform for the burgeoning talents of the 8th grade band members to flourish in a distinctive and stimulating environment.

Notably, the realization of this ambitious project has been made possible through the generous support of the BOCES Arts in Education (AIE) Program Cultural Arts Grant and the Pittsford Central School District PTSA Program Enrichment Grant. Their unwavering commitment to fostering artistic endeavors and educational initiatives has paved the way for this transformative musical collaboration to come to fruition.