Author: Ivy Miller

Wyoming Seminary Music 2023-2024: The Grand Finale

Posted on by

by Abby Ryu ’26

As the school year comes to a close, life on campus seems to inversely get busier as most extracurricular groups hold important end of the year events. One of said events is the annual Spring concert, which was presented by the Wyoming Seminary Music Department on Saturday May 4 in the Kirby Center for Creative Arts (KCCA). This concert was the last large performance for those in the music department, allowing students in the music department to showcase their immense effort throughout the school year. Chloe Caputo ‘26, a member of both the Chorale and Band as well as the two smaller ensembles, Madrigals and Jazz Band, echoes this sentiment: “The Spring concert is such a rewarding way for us to display our growth. We’ve all worked very hard and come a long way since the beginning of the year.”

The evening started off at 5 P.M. with an exciting performance by the Band. Directed by Tyler Harvey, the group performed a large variety of compositions: from fantastical pieces like Ralph Ford’s impish but forceful Dark Adventure, to bold modern arrangements, such as Hugh Stuart’s triumphant A Hymn for Band. Following this performance was a mini reception in the lobby; Guests replenished their energy with delicious snacks while the Wyoming Seminary jazz band provided background music. 

The Chorale and Madrigals, as well as the String performances commenced at 6 P.M. Similarly to the Band performance, audience members also experienced a wide range of music from these ensembles. The String ensemble, notably, delivered a very impressive finish to the concert with the classical piece Carnival of the Animals by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns. The Chorale, including the Madrigals, also dazzled the audience with a broad selection of songs, including chilling songs of praise like Tomás Luis de Victoria’s Ave Maria as well as upbeat folk songs like Walter Ehret’s arrangement of Cindy. Dr. Daniel Hall, Chorale Director at Wyoming Seminary specifically comments on his favorite part of the concert: “It’s really cool to hear everyone performing, especially, my arrangement of Shall We Gather At the River. It’s exciting to hear SEM singers bring it to life.” 

The Music Department’s Spring Concert brought the community together to commemorate the hard work of students, but also to appreciate music by specifically showcasing its beautifully diverse variety. The concert served as an unforgettable finale for the 2023-2024 year and left both the audience, as well as the performers, in excited anticipation for what’s to come next year!

Sem Walk For Water 2024

Posted on by

by Finn Ruderman ’25

Just for a second, put yourself in their shoes. You wake up and instead of a daily morning routine, you have to grab your empty five gallon water container—weighing over 40 pounds when full—and set out on your walk to a water reserve roughly five miles away. 

For almost everyone in rural Burkina Faso, this is their everyday lives. There is no running water, and the water obtained from these daily treks is almost always dirty and unsafe to drink. This, as you can probably imagine, causes a lot of problems for those in this situation. These problems are exactly what those involved in the recent Walk For Water conducted here at Sem sought to resolve.

For the past couple of years, Sem has partnered with the Barka Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of those without access to clean water in Burkina Faso through the implementation of water wells in different villages throughout the eastern part of the country. For this past walk, all of the funds generated went directly to the new well-building project in the village Fada-N’gourma. 

The walk, organized by the Upper and Lower Schools’ Environmental Clubs and myself, was a fully in person event for the first time since Sem has started doing them. 57 Sem students, faculty, and friends, along with five dogs, came together on April 21st to walk from back campus, to Kirby Park, and back for a total of around three miles all whilst carrying jugs and containers of water in an effort to simulate, even in a very small way, the journey that the residents of Fada need to make daily to get their water.

In total, the walk managed to raise over $2,000, roughly one-fifth of the total cost of the well—a fairly significant amount. As always, one of the main purposes of the Walk For Water, aside from raising money, is to call attention to certain aspects of life (in this case, having access to clean/fresh water) which you may unconsciously take for granted, all while others who go without are struggling.

For all those who helped in any way, I offer you a sincere thank you.  And to those who missed it this year, the Walk for Water will be an annual event, so there will be more opportunities to come.

The Champions

Posted on by

By Michael DeMuro ’27

The Sem wrestling season has been phenomenal so far. The recent victory against Blair Academy has everyone feeling great and adds another win to their undefeated season.

Blair Academy is #2 in the country and is Sem’s biggest rival in most sports, particularly wrestling and football. Sem and Blair will wrestle again at national preps, which is sure to be as heated, if not more, as the recent match which was held here, on Sem turf on January 12th. Many are easger to see the national preps unfold.

Several people view this victory against Blair as revenge for the loss against them in the football game that occurred in the fall. Cornell Robinson, the wrestling coach for both the boys’ and girls’ teams, stated, “It’s been good for the first half of the season…, however, it’s what you do at the end of the season that counts.” The team has been working hard since late August, and it is clear that their work has been paying off. The season will not end until the completion of the spring term, so they still have many more matches to prove why they are number one in the country.

As Davis Motyka ‘24 said, “I think the team has been growing closer each day,… everyone brings each other upduring practice and school.” The wrestlers work very hard to keep their grades up and balance school withwrestling very well. Even though the team is undefeated, all the players still work to be even better than they already are. Robinson was hired in 2021 and filled the position seamlessly.

Following the influential mentorship of last year’s seniors, this year’s seniors have stepped up to the challenge and have continued a positive influence on their new freshmen teammates.  The team can be found almost every day practicing in the Great Hall,  which used to be a bank and still retains some of its original features such as the offices and the vaults, which are now used to store equipment.

On a personal note, I’d like to end by saying this; I have attended several matches and duels and have also gotten to know most of the wrestlers in social settings. I can say without a doubt that these athletes have some of the best work ethic I have ever seen. That, combined with their respect and friendship for each other on and off the mat, is the reason they are the champions of Wyoming Seminary.