BY RYAN O’CONNOR

The Bow High School music program prides itself on continued success and quality performances by its large contingent of student musicians.

The Freese Brothers Big Band prides itself on raising money for scholarships for Concord-area high school students.

On Tuesday, March 6, the Freese Brothers Big Band displayed its  talents, along with several students, at the Bow High School Jazz Festival: A Celebration of Jazz.

“The annual jazz festival is an opportunity to demonstrate that music spans all ages,” said Bow High School music director Bill Metevier. “Our students look forward to sharing the stage with the band. The Freese Brothers Band is a tremendous community resource that has always been supportive of our music students.”

Though he was unable to attend the jazz festival, Will Gunn, who graduated from Bow High School in 2006, said the Freese Brothers offer a great opportunity to many students such as himself.

As a junior, the Freese Brothers, Gunn received a Freese Brothers scholarship, helping him pay for more than half of his tuition to a 2005 summer musical festival in upper-state New York.

“It was amazing,” said Gunn. “I actually wrote a letter and told them how much I appreciated their help. It was one of the most amazing experiences I ever had with one of my summers.”

Bow High School will present two more festivals, A Celebration of Instrumental Music on Thursday, March 15, and A Celebration of Choral and String Music on Thursday, March 22.

Both events will take place in the Bow High School auditorium at 7 p.m.
A new grand piano, which the Bow POPS has been raising money for over the last year, will be unveiled at the March 22 concert. Freshman pianist Kelsey Hochgraf will be the first to play the instrument as part of the unveiling.