Events & Accomplishments
This is a list of past, recurring, and future events and accomplishments for Tri-M.
Events & Projects
Silk City Fest
Students from Tri-M volunteered with Machester's annual Silk City Fest - a festival designed to bring the community together and support Manchester's small businesses and local artisans. We are hoping to have student groups perform in the future and increase our number of volunteers. Our participation in Silk City Fest began in August 2023.
Summer Fest
Summer Fest is Tri-M's annual end-of-year celebration, designed to build community among all of the MHS ensembles. Students plan this event, including the selection of vendors, performers, decorations, activities, and more. This tradition began in June 2023.
Downtown Scarecrow Festival
Tri-M participates in Machester's annual Downtown Scarecrow Festival, a public art initiative designed to beautify Main Street and support small businesses and organizations! Tri-M debuted its first scarecrow, Hawktavo (the musical redhawk) in October 2023.
Manchester Road Race
Tri-M members volunteered their time to help with the annual Manchester Road Race! Members of our group helped with the Little Road Race registration, helped facilitate the route during the Road Race, and performed at the Road Race Blood Drive.
Homecoming Dance
Tri-M Collaborated with MHS BSU (Black Student Union) to sell concessions at the 2023 Homecoming Dance. Proceeds from this fundraiser were used to purchase a bulletin board for the orchestra in the Spring semester.
Inductions
Every year, MHS Tri-M holds an induction for its newest cohort of members. Our first induction for Cohort I occurred in the Fall of 2023 as Tri-M started in the Spring of 2023, with Cohort II being inducted in the Spring of 2024. We look forward to inducting members from Cohort III in 2025.
Guest Speakers
Tri-M has hosted the following guest speakers: Dr. Janet Kim (Director of the UConn Wind Ensembles, November 2023) | Vanessa Hudson, Vivian Hudson, Caroline Christopher, Ethan DeBaise (Alumni _ Current Music Students - Music Major Panel, March 2024) | Dr. Jamie Spillane (Director of UConn Choral Activities, April 2024) | Dr. Gaylon Robinson (Director of Choral Activities at Central CT State University, TBA).
Cabaret Night
Tri-M hosted its first performance-based event in February 2024 with Cabaret Night! Students took on a variety of roles, from auditioning to take the stage, to selling concessions and tickets, to helping run logistics and hosting. Our 2024 performance was a benefit event to help raise money for students hoping to participate in the April DC Music Tour, for which we were able to raise almost $800.
Elicit Fundraiser
In March 2024, Tri-M hosted a fundraiser at Elicit Brewing (a local brewery in Manchester) in an effort to raise money for students hoping to participate in the April DC Music Tour. We succeeded in raising over $1,000 for our students.
Townwide Bouquet Fundraisers
Tri-M sold floral bouquets at the 2024 Townwide Concerts to raise money for our choral/orchestral/band programs along with the Tri-M general fund (to be used for future projects and initiatives).
Spring Concert Bouquet Fundraisers
Tri-M also sells bouquets at the Spring Concerts to benefit the MHS, Illing Middle School, and Bennet Academy music ensembles. Proceeds for MHS concerts go to the respective ensembles and Tri-M; all proceeds from Illing and Bennet concerts will go to the respective programs in those schools.
Music Kickball Game
2024 marks the first annual Tri-M Music Kickball Game, which is a fundraiser and community builder designed to support our ensembles and build community both between the MHS music ensembles and the larger MHS community. Half of the proceeds will be awarded to the winning ensemble, while the remaining half will be split between the Tri-M General Fund and the losing ensemble.
Contributions
These are different ways that Tri-M has contributed to the MHS music department/our community as a whole.
Hawktavo
During the Downtown Scarecrow Festival, Tri-M created and posted Hawktavo, our first scarecrow contribution!
Repertoire Diversity Project
Tri-M is currently saving money for our Repertoire Diversity Project, which aims to diversify the MHS music libraries. Once the first round of our project is funded, students will form a committee for repertoire selection and acquisition. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that every school in Manchester has access to a diverse music library that features composers of all races, abilities, orientations, and genders.
Manchester Road Race
Tri-M members volunteered their time to help with the annual Manchester Road Race! Members of our group helped with the Little Road Race registration, helped facilitate the route during the Road Race, and performed at the Road Race Blood Drive.
Beat Buddy Project (2024)
Volunteers from Tri-M's Creation and Design Committee designed the Beat Buddy Project, an initiative created to benefit our district's elementary music classrooms! Students worked to create numerous "stuffed animal" manipulatives (amigurumi) which elementary students will use to reinforce different musical concepts like note durations, keeping a steady beat, exploring timber/range, and more! Select students will visit Buckley Elementary School to help Ms. Leonard run a lesson using the Beat Buddies. Our overall goal is to create 200+ Beat Buddies so we can donate at least one class set to each elementary school in Manchester.
DC Tour Funding
In 2024, Tri-M raised almost $2,000 to support students attending the 2024 Washington, DC Music tour.
Middle School Fundraising
Tri-M will be selling bouquets to benefit the Bennet and Illing music ensembles at their concerts. All profit from these fundraisers will go directly to their respective music programs. Tri-M members also help record the concerts.