Every year, music departments face one fear - budget cuts. To promote the importance of music in our schools, The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) sets March as "Music in Our Schools Month" or MIOSM. Here in Oswego County, we participate in MIOSM by holding our spring concerts in March.

Oswego High School will be hosting this year's All County Orchestra Festival on March 20 and 21. This will include an Elementary String Orchestra, a Jr. High String Orchestra, and a Senior High Symphony Orchestra. Three prestigious guest conductors have been invited to direct these groups. Their performances will be on March 21.

The All County Symphonic Orchestra will be conducted by Nancy Strelau from Nazareth College. The Junior High Orchestra will be conducted by Cheryl Rogers, retired Oswego High School Orchestra director. Tracey Cheney from West Genesee Middle School will be conducting the Elementary Orchestra.

G. Ray Bodley's own music department will also be hosting three concerts this month. The Concert Choir and Treble Choir will be performing with "The Snow Belters" on March 19. This concert will feature soloist Jessica LaPage on clarinet and be accompanied by Dolores Walrath. They will be performing:

• Gloria Cantata - Vivaldi
• With You - Schwartz
• Hine Ma Tov - Naplan
• You Are The Reason - Calum Scott
• Sing, My Child (featuring soloists Alex Blaine and Olivia Hawthorne) - Quartel
• I Will Always Love You - Dolly Parton
• Build Me Up, Buttercup - Huff
• No More the Winter's Hand - Parker
• Fascinating Rhythm - Huff

When asked why MIOSM is important to him, Choir Director Mr. Thomas Nami stated, "It gives students a chance to celebrate their music departments."

The Wind Ensemble and Concert Band, directed by Mr. Terrance Caviness, will be performing on March 23. The Junior High Eighth Grade Band will be performing on this day, as well. They will be performing:

• Fiesta De Los Toros - Balmages
• Hymn to Loved Ones Lost - Saucedo
• Awayday - Gorb
• Yiddish Dances - Gorb
• Circe's Curse - Meehan
• Metal
• Into the Dragon Lair
• Infinity Fanfare
• Warwick Castle

The G. Ray Bodley Symphonic Orchestra and Concert Orchestra will be performing on March 26. This concert will also feature soloists Jessica LaPage on clarinet and Andrew Smith on violin. The orchestras will be directed by Anna Edele.

• Bacchanal
• The Carmen Suite
• America
• Post Cards From Russia
• Creatures
• Pieces of Eight
• Air & Dance
• Bohemian Rhapsody

Anna Edele, GRB Orchestra director, said, "Music in Our Schools Month is important to preserve music education. To quote Aaron Copland, 'To stop the flow of music would be like the stopping of time itself - incredible and inconceivable.'"

Good luck at your concerts, GRB Music Department!