A Season of Music, Magic, and Memorable Moments

Celebrating springtime symphonies that still resonate this holiday season.

As December fills our schools with songs, performances, and the joyful hum of the holiday season, it’s the perfect time to reflect on moments of learning that felt truly magical. Last spring at Hilder Pearson Elementary, that magic came through music—thanks to two North Kitsap Schools Foundation grants led by music teacher Tamera Rabura that opened the doors to orchestral experiences students will remember for a lifetime.

When the Orchestra Comes to You

For Hilder Pearson’s fifth graders, the journey began with the Seattle Symphony Link-Up: The Orchestra Swings program. Students didn’t just listen to music—they became part of it. They learned jazz-inspired pieces through singing, body percussion, recorder, and movement, while also studying legendary jazz musicians and the challenges they faced.

Students even took creativity a step further by composing their own class jazz pieces—one of which was selected for orchestration by the symphony.

Children sit in a colorful classroom as a man plays a violin.

Children stand and smile in a classroom.

Although a spring storm forced the cancellation of their planned field trip to Benaroya Hall, the music found a way. The Seattle Symphony shared a Carnegie Hall performance so students could still perform along, and later sent a violinist and an education director to Hilder Pearson for a mini-concert and lesson.

The jazz so inspired one student's focus that they went home, researched Billie Holiday, and created a presentation to share with the class—proof that the connection went far beyond the notes on the page.

Seeing (and Hearing) Music Up Close

Meanwhile, students in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade participated in an in-person orchestral performance with the Bremerton Symphony OrKIDstra on a field trip. Foundation grant funds covered the buses that made the trip possible, while the Bremerton Lions Club sponsored the concert itself—an example of community support working in harmony.

Before attending, students studied The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, learning about instrument families and their unique sounds. Seeing those instruments live brought the learning to life.

“It’s one thing to see a picture of a string bass,” one student reflected. “It’s very different to see how big it is—and how low the sound goes.”

Children are smiling and seated in blue seating in a concert hall.

Children are smiling and seated in blue seating in a concert hall.

After the concert, student reflections poured in:

• “My favorite part was hearing all the different families.”

• “The violinists were amazing.”

• “I loved it when the brass interrupted because it was funny!”

A Perfect Note to End the Year

Though these experiences happened in the spring, their impact resonates deeply during this festive season. Music has a way of bringing people together—across grades, across communities, and across time.

Thanks to the North Kitsap Schools Foundation, more than 200 students experienced music not just as something to listen to, but as something to feel, explore, and create. These grants didn’t just fund concerts or buses—they created moments of wonder, inspiration, and lifelong memories.

As we celebrate the season, we’re reminded that some of the greatest gifts aren’t wrapped—they’re heard, shared, and remembered.