Successful Music Program at St. Brigid in Portland to Perform for Bishop Deeley on March 1

PORTLAND---Bishop Robert Deeley will visit the students, faculty, and staff at St. Brigid School, located on 695 Stevens Avenue in Portland, on Wednesday, March 1. During his time at the school, he will have the opportunity to take in the talent and teamwork drawn out this year thanks to a dynamic and innovative music program at St. Brigid.

“It’s an amazing thing to see these kids so engaged and how they have found their voices and grown and improved,” said William Burke, principal of St. Brigid.

The music program at St. Brigid is now being coordinated by Matthew Fogg, who co-owns the Midcoast School of Music in Portland and provides the school with professional instructors, each with their own specialty.

“We do a team-teaching kind of thing, so they get highly qualified people in there every day, people with different disciplines, so they can meet all the needs of the various student groups,” said Matthew.

For instance, on Wednesday at 10 a.m., the bishop will be treated to performances by a band comprised of fourth and fifth graders, a band made up of sixth, seventh, and eighth graders, and a combined performance by third, fourth, and fifth graders from the school’s liturgical music class.

The performance for the bishop is just one of many memorable experiences enjoyed by the students thanks to the program, including a music residency with Delvin Choice of NBC’s The Voice in January that culminated with a dazzling, sold-out concert at Stevens Square Community Center Auditorium in Portland. On March 24, Mike Tucker, a tenor saxophonist from the Arturo Sandoval Orchestra, will hold a residency at the school, as will violinist Jason Anick and the Rhythm Future Quartet on May 12. On September 14-15, Grammy Award winning vocalist Falu Shah and her band will be in residency with the students who will perform with her in a special concert, while Delvin Choice is planning to return to St. Brigid in January of 2024.

“I am really enjoying the freedom to dream big for St. Brigid,” said Matthew.

For more information about the school or the music program, call 207-797-7073 or visit www.sbrigids.com.