Each term, Peddie’s orchestra and chorus come together to host a music concert, featuring each of Peddie’s musical groups. These nights are designated as no-homework nights, as the entire school is encouraged to come and experience the fruits of Peddie’s orchestral and choral labors, whether in-person or livestreamed on the Peddie website. One of Peddie’s most important traditions, each concert is a special moment that brings the entire school together. 

This year’s fall term concert also happened to coincide with Veterans Day, something Mr. Michaels, the arts department chair and orchestra conductor, took into careful account when arranging the program for the concert. Specifically, the program honored Veterans Day by opening with an orchestral and choral performance of “The Star Spangled Banner,” America’s national anthem. It also included a choral performance of “Flanders Fields,” which pays tribute to victims who fought in World War I.

“‘Flanders Fields’ [is] a setting of the 1915 poem by Canadian medical officer Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. The poem’s image of red poppies blooming among the graves of fallen soldiers on the battlefields of Belgium has made the poppy an enduring international symbol of remembrance,” explained Mr. Michaels. 

“It was nice that our fall concert fell on Veterans Day this year because it gave us a chance to honor those who made sacrifices for the USA,” Mr. Michaels also said.