The Edison Middle School Band, under the direction of Shaun Davis, performed Sunday at the Grand Central Mall in the Artsbridge Winter Music Series. A number of the Winter Music Series concerts are dedicated to school music programs.

VIENNA – The Artsbridge Winter Music Series highlights local school bands and their students in a community setting at the Grand Central Mall.

On Sunday, the Edison Middle School Band, Jazz Band and Choir performed before a large crowd at the mall outside of Boot Country, Books A Million and Ross Dress for Less. The series goes from December through February.

“It gives the schools an opportunity to showcase to the community exactly what they are doing and be able to become more familiar with it,” said Artsbridge Board President Jeff DeWitt. “With the crowd here, you can see how many people it draws.

“Most of the Winter Music Series is dedicated to the school systems.”

Groups that have already performed included High Schools that Rock (Dec. 1), Warren Community Band (Dec 8), Warren Jazz Ensemble (Dec. 15), Jim “Elvis” Forshey (Jan. 5) and PSHS Choir (Jan. 12).

The Edison Middle School Choir performed winter-themed selections Sunday at the Grand Central Mall in the Artsbridge Winter Music Series.

Edison Choir Director Robin Shepard talked about the students they have in their music programs as well as the support the students get from their families..

“We are blessed with so many talented students at Edison,” she said. “Our numbers keep growing which is such a wonderful thing to have.

“It wouldn’t be possible without all of you here (she said to the families and the residents who attended).

Edison Middle School Band Director Shaun Davis talked about the need for arts education to help create more rounded students and a more balanced education that can succeed in a variety of subjects.

However, the arts programs are always in danger of being cut due to funding limitations with cuts to teacher positions. Those programs are also in danger in Wood County.

Students from Edison Middle School Band during a performance Sunday at the Grand Central Mall as part of the Artsbridge Winter Music Series.

“We don’t want to lose our band and choir programs or our arts teachers,” Davis said. “Funding is lowering and they are going to have to make cuts somewhere.

“These programs are important to develop education, culture and the future. We need to keep arts at the center of a well rounded education. It makes us better human beings.”

Parent Jennifer Allen, whose child was in the choir program, said these concerts are a good chance for the school music programs to go outside the school setting and show a wider range of people in the community what they do.

“I think they have a lot of fun doing it,” she said of the students. “It is getting out and show everyone what they can do.”

DeWitt talked about getting the kids excited about performing as middle school students. They are the ones who feed into the high school music programs that impacts the whole community, he said.

Photos by Brett Dunlap The Edison Middle School Band, under the direction of Shaun Davis, performed Sunday at the Grand Central Mall in the Artsbridge Winter Music Series. Belpre High School is next week.

“This is a great opportunity to perform and showcase what they have done,” he said. “It is outstanding. “Giving back to the community is something we work very hard to do.”

The remaining performances of the Winter Music Series are:

*Jan. 26: Belpre High School Band

*Feb. 2: Side Trax Band

*Feb. 9: Wood County Christian

*Feb. 16: Marietta High School Choir & Bells

*Feb. 23: Williamstown Strings

Contact Brett Dunlap at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com