About St. Phil's Music Class:
All of the students at St. Philomena School, from Preschool through 8th Grade, participate in general music class. Preschool has music class for 20 minutes every week, and all of the other grades have music class for two half hour periods each week. In December every year, Kindergarten through 8th grade all participate in a school-wide Christmas Program, along with band and choir students.
In addition to the two music classes each grade receives, music is also presented through various optional music groups and performances. We alternate between having a junior high choir comprised of grades 6th-8th which practices after school, as well as a Performance Ensemble whose purpose is to represent St. Philomena at various community events and our schools' Spring Concert. We have a band comprised of 5th-8th grade students which performs in an annual Spring Concert at our school, as well as different events in the community. In fourth grade, our students learn how to play the Recorder instrument, and they participate in the Spring Concert as well. Every Spring we have a school musical which we perform at a local community theatre (Peoria Players Theatre) which involves 5th-8th grade students. We also allow our students to experience a Solo-Ensemble competition which takes place in the Spring, as well as other local and school artistic endeavors.
About St. Phil's Music Teacher:
Mary Rose (Williams) Smith is the general music, choir, and ensemble teacher at St. Philomena School, as well as the music director for the Spring school musical. Mary Rose is a Bradley University graduate and has been performing since before she could talk, first with her family for local events and nursing homes, and then in local community theatre. She has performed in numerous productions throughout the area, including Maria in "West Side Story", Guenevere in "Camelot", Luisa in “The Fantasticks”, Cinderella in "Cinderella," and Cosette in “Les Miserables," among many others. Mary Rose enjoys helping students foster their passion for music and especially using the gift of music to give glory back to God. She was very excited to marry her Prince Charming Tyler Smith this year and can't wait to start the 2020-2021 school year!