MS158’s 2025 Winter Arts Festival!

It’s December! Winter arrives, meaning that temperatures drop, the cold air starts to bite, and the holiday season comes with warm greetings. But, here at MS 158, we have a special tradition showcasing our wonderful 7th and 8th Grade Band and Chorus! To get more in depth about it, we are interviewing our one and only band director, Ms. Schecter! Important details and the link where you could buy tickets also are featured here. So, here’s all the information (and then some) on our annual Winter Arts Festival!

Fun Facts about Ms. Schecter!

• She’s been teaching Band at MS 158 for 22 years.

• She actually went here as a student and started her musical journey in the very room she teaches in!

• She won a Big Apple award in 2021, an award for outstanding teachers who work in the NYCDOE!

Below is the interview!

Q: Are you more excited or nervous for the concert?

A: Excited! I don’t really get nervous for concerts.

Q: Do you have a favorite piece you’re working on with 7th or 8th grade?

A: I’m really excited for Arabian Dances, because it’s a challenging piece I’ve wanted to program for a long time. I’ve also never had a group that was up for the challenge. It sounds really good as well!

Q: Which piece are you excited for audiences to hear?

A: To be honest, I’m excited for the audience to hear everything, but I’m particularly proud of this lyrical piece called “me”, which carries a strong message of self-esteem and anti-bullying. We’re working on this with 8th Grade!

Q: What do you think about how far the band has come since picking up where we left off in September?

A: The students have really progressed, but always work towards improvement because music is a lifelong journey.

Q: Last but not least–why should people come to the Winter Arts festival?

A: People should come because the students have worked very hard and are very talented. Mr. McHugh himself said the Arts program is the heart and soul of the school, and it’s a testament to how lucky we are to have such a vibrant arts program!

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That just about wraps up the interview! Here are some integral details to know if you’re planning on attending! 

• The event is on Wednesday the 17th, with additional assemblies previewing the 8th Grade Band and Chorus through periods 3-5.

• The 7th Grade performance starts at 6:00pm, while 8th Grade performance starts at 7:30pm.

• The ticket price is $5, it can be purchased at either…

  • On TicketLeap, with no additional fee by clicking this link.

  • Or, at the door, with tickets being the same.

  • Additionally, proceeds go towards funding for the arts program at our school!

• The 8th Grade concert will feature a special performance by our MS158 Jazz Ensemble, with improvised solos! (which I may or may not be doing)

• You can also view the art show sometime before the 7th Grade concert, or just simply by looking at the gallery by the auditorium!

Thanks for reading this article, and I hope to see you Wednesday for a night full of art and music!