Students put on big performances at City Hall festival

Boston Globe

27-05-2025

'Our teachers work really hard at our schools every day — practicing with their students, teaching them skills," said
Amy Wedge, executive director for the Arts of BPS. 'This is an opportunity for them to be able to perform.'
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On Tuesday, students and teachers from the Warren-Prescott School, Boston Latin School, Thomas J. Kenny Elementary, and more brought a lively, albeit chaotic, energy to the plaza. Students, finished with their performances, took pictures in their costumes — some in pirate-like green garbs and pointy hats — while others took to the hot concrete to create colorful chalk drawings as the next school took to the stage.
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Boston Latin School Gospel Choir Director Koriana Lewis Bradford looked out onto the scene fondly. 'It's the highlight of the year,' she said about her students' yearly field trip to City Hall. 'It's the one time that we get to all be together, all these different Boston Public Schools.'
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Bradford teaches seventh- and eighth-graders who performed 'oldies, but goodies of Gospel music,' including 'This Is The Day' by Fred Hammond and 'You Are Good' by Israel Houghton.
'These kids are my heart,' Bradford said. 'It's a joy to be able to share everything that I've poured into them. To see it come to life on stage takes everything to another level.' Bradford, eyes welling with prideful tears, said she felt inspired by the sight of the talent her students displayed.
'This is an opportunity to really showcase what they've been doing [in the classroom], but on a wider scale,' Wedge said. 'I think it's important for our students to share their voice, an opportunity for them to tell their own stories and see themselves as artists, as part of the community.'
While Tuesday brought theatrical scenes to Downtown Boston with the 'Arts Extravaganza,' the coming days will offer a variety of experiences for attendees. Wednesday's 'Music: Wired' will fill the Plaza with modern tunes of jazz, pop, rock, and R&B from upbeat student ensembles, as well as a special performance from GBH Music's Quartet in Residence, the Ulysses Quartet.
The next day, musicians from several groups will bring a rawer energy to the scene and amps will be unplugged in favor of acoustic and concert bands and choirs for Thursday's 'Music: Unplugged.'
Friday's 'Dance and Theatre Finale' clears the way for young dancers from various companies to hit the makeshift dance floor, courtesy of the Boston Dance Alliance.
Boston's own Naheem Garcia, an actor and performing arts educator, will reprise his role as festival host once again.
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Students from the Eliot K-8 Innovation School Band performed on Boston City Hall Plaza as part of the Boston Public Schools Citywide Arts Festival May 27, 2025.
Annielly Camargo
Marianna Orozco can be reached at