FULL TRANSCRIPT (with timecode)
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Welcome to Voices, a national award-winning podcast brought to you by the Seneca Valley School District.
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Jeff Krakoff: This is Jeff Krakoff. Today we're talking about the upcoming 25th Annual Senior Holiday Event. And joining us to tell us all about it is Brian Croach, who is a music teacher at Ryan Gloyer Middle School. Thanks for joining us today.
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Brian Croach: My pleasure, Jeff, thanks for having me.
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Jeff Krakoff: So being this is the 25th annual event for this, I'm sure a lot of people are aware of it, but for those who aren't. Tell us a little bit about what's the senior holiday event all about.
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Brian Croach: Like you said, it is our 25th annual event here. We're really excited to host it, but the event is a great opportunity for us to invite senior citizens that live within the Seneca Valley District into our building. Specifically, we'll invite them to the Seneca Valley Intermediate High School for a luncheon. But also, we cap it off with some performances where we get to feature student work from musicianship through artwork, but really is a great event for us to be able to bring those citizens into our building, get to interact with them, and also have our ROTC program interact with those senior citizens. So we're really looking forward to it.
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Jeff Krakoff: Okay, so you mentioned the location is the Seneca Valley Intermediate High School. What date and what time will this be?
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Brian Croach: Yeah. So we'll be hosting this. It will be a Wednesday, December 20th, and the time starts officially at 12:30-2:30. But we will actually open up the doors right there at noon so senior citizens can get in at noon. But the event itself will officially take place from 12:30-2:30 Wednesday, December 20th.
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Jeff Krakoff: Okay. And is this open to any senior citizen? Only those living within the district?
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Brian Croach: Yeah. We would ask those that live within the district. That's who it's open for. And an important note to that is it is totally free for any senior citizen that lives within the district.
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Jeff Krakoff: That's a big feature there. So again, being the 25th time this events taking place. Um, is there anything different that guests can expect this year versus prior years?
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Brian Croach: Yeah, sure. Well, we're always excited to feature some student performances, but this year we're also capping it off with some additional artwork that will be provided by the students of Mr. Jason Shorr's art classes. But one of the reasons I have the pleasure of speaking today is because an additional piece that we'll be adding in this year is the playing of the RGMS jazz ensemble will be joining as part of the performances. So we're really excited to to bring them into the mix. And I am the director of the RGMS Jazz ensemble.
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Jeff Krakoff: Okay. You mentioned Jason Shorr had an opportunity to speak with him, and he's at the Seneca Valley Intermediate High School, is an art teacher, and that the senior high school also. And he mentioned what you said, that a nice wrinkle for this year is there's going to be an exhibit of student artwork on display. Right? And it's going to be high school students grades 9-12. And they're actually going to have the gallery up a month prior to the senior event to give people a chance to see it so people can go to the school, view it during hours when the school is open and you know, there's going to be various concerts that will be in the evening and performing arts events. People can check out the display there too. So, you know, he did mention the students are so excited about having their work there and also collaborating with the middle school jazz band. So, you know, tell me a little bit about, from your perspective, how excited are your students to be part of this? What are they saying and thinking?
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Brian Croach: Oh my, my students are so excited. First of all, they work really hard. They're a group of students that actually audition into the RGMS jazz ensemble in the spring prior to the start of the school year, and they also put in extra time with the rehearsals because it is a group that rehearses outside of the normal school day, we have the opportunity to have some small group lessons during the day, but most of the work that they put into is is all after school, so they're already throwing in extra effort and putting in a lot of time and a lot of energy, and they just love to have the opportunity to perform and show off their skills and talents. But in addition to just that extra performance opportunity, it's really special for them to have the opportunity to play for the community and to have a chance to give back and play some music for the senior citizens. And this year is extra special for them, because part of them giving back and playing is they'll actually be playing a piece with the jazz ensemble, one that will also be there for the day. And so it's a really great connection, an amazing opportunity. Like I was saying, for them to actually connect with the older students that are part of the band program as well, and they kind of get a glimpse into what their future may hold as a jazz band member here at Seneca Valley.
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Jeff Krakoff: Yeah, that has to be a cool experience for middle school students being able to perform with the upper classmen. Yeah. When I spoke with Jason Shorr, he put in an interesting way. He said that, you know, it's an opportunity for students to, you know, basically show off all their hard work. So for an artist, you know, it's very much like the big performance is to a musician. So it's a great event for all. Um. From the perspective of senior citizens. You know, what do you think they can gain from coming and seeing this great event?
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Brian Croach: Oh, sure. Well, just off the top. We're so proud of our students. So, you know, if they are able to make it to the event, the first thing they'll get to see is just really kind, respectful students that want to interact and they want to give back to the community, which is something I think is so important to create these events and times of the year where we can reconnect and rekindle potentially some of those connections in our community that may not be as strong as we always wish they were. So having them in our building and being able to connect with them from our students all the way through to our senior citizens is really important for us. And it's a great thing to also just have events like this to teach our students about what it's like to give back to, you know, work out some of those muscles that we would love to see them use when they graduate from Seneca Valley, and how they can be participants and active members of society.
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Jeff Krakoff: Yeah. That's awesome. So to summarize, it's Wednesday, December 20th at Seneca Valley Intermediate High School from 12:30-2 pm, but people can get in starting at noon. Correct. It's free. But the big question is how can people register for the 25th Annual Senior Holiday Event?
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Brian Croach: Yeah, sure. There are definitely some flyers that have been floating around the community, but as far as registration goes, it's as simple as making a phone call and just letting the district know that you would be interested in participating. And that phone number is (724) 452-6040. And then extension 0. And again, it is totally free. The RSVP is so that we can adequately plan our numbers as of last year. I think we had nearly 350 senior citizens, which is amazing. So we just want to be able to plan appropriately. And that's why we asked that they would RSVP by December 13th if possible.
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Jeff Krakoff: Okay. So again, the phone number to register (724) 452-6040. Extension 0. Awesome. Well, can't wait for the event and I appreciate your time. This was Brian Croach, who again is a music teacher at Ryan Gloyer Middle School. Have a great day.
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Brian Croach: Thank you, Jeff.
