Orchestra Summit Kicks Off Concert Season at Rockport Schools
Nathan Cohen, Orchestra Director, Rockport Public Schools
ROCKPORT, MA - The yearly Rockport Public Schools’ Orchestra Summit is November 17th - 20th, 2025. The acclaimed Videri String Quartet, which specializes in video game music, will be working with all Rockport string students throughout the week, culminating in a side-by-side performance with 4th - 12th grade students. The performances are open to the public.
Wednesday, November 19th - 7:00pm: Shalin Liu Performance Center, Rockport, MA:
Videri String Quartet. Tickets are $10 (free to students and their families).
Thursday, November 20th - 6:30pm: John Lane Auditorium, Rockport Middle High School:
Orchestra Summit Finale Concert featuring 4th - 12th grade Orchestra students playing side-by-side with the Videri String Quartet and other visiting musicians. Free admission.
The mission of the summits, which have become a yearly tradition, is to build mentorship between grade levels in the music ensembles, to give younger students a sense of where they are headed, and to give the older students a sense of how far they have come. This year, there are two days of after-school events for students and two evening concerts open to the public, one featuring student performers and another featuring visiting musicians. There are also special activities throughout the week in Orchestra classes. The hope is to build relationships between students during the day-time sessions and then cap it off with a collaborative concert demonstrating the learning that has already taken place this year.
“The role that Rockport Music plays in the development of our students is profound. Our students have the opportunity to learn from some of the best musicians on the planet and then perform alongside them. The summit is both a celebration and a window into our learning process,” said Nathan Cohen, Director of Orchestras and Curriculum Coordinator for the Performing and Visual Arts Departments. The Rockport Middle High School Band Director, Logan LaRue shared that, “The summits are a great opportunity for students of all ages to make connections and enjoy their shared love of music. "The summit is a really good experience. It all feels like I'm just learning, even from the younger kids, honestly." - Savannah Hopkins, RMHS Junior.
In addition to the Orchestra Summit Finale, there are several more Rockport Public Schools’ concerts coming soon. All student concerts at the school are free and open to the public.
- November 20th: Orchestra Summit Finale Concert, 6:30 pm RMHS John Lane Auditorium
- December 9th: RMHS Grade 6-8 Jazz and Small Ensemble Concert, 6:30 pm Shalin Liu Performance Center
- December 10th: RMHS Grades 9-12 Jazz and Small Ensemble Concert, 6:30 pm Shalin Liu Performance Center
- December 15th RES Winter Concert, 6:30 pm RMHS John Lane Auditorium
- December 16th: RMHS Grades 6-8 Winter Concert, 6:30 pm RMHS John Lane Auditorium
- December 18th: RMHS Grades 9-12 Winter Concert, 6:30 pm RMHS John Lane Auditorium
The Rockport Middle High School music students are fundraising for a performance tour to Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia in April 2027. At all the upcoming performances, they will be selling raffle tickets to win a trip to London or Paris. Anyone unable to attend a school concert but wishing to purchase raffle tickets or to make a donation to support the students’ efforts is welcome to contact Nathan Cohen at [email protected].