St. Margaret’s Fosters Cross-Divisional Connections Through Musical Petting Zoo

St. Margaret’s PreK-12 campus continues to provide unique opportunities for students to connect through cross-divisional opportunities, enriching their educational experience with moments of joyful learning and interaction. This week, the Darcy Rice Center for the Arts became the setting for a special event that brought together Upper and Middle School students with Early School students at the annual "Musical Petting Zoo."

Upper and Middle School orchestra students hosted the event, which gave Early School students the chance to explore a variety of musical instruments in an interactive and engaging setting. The older students led demonstrations of instruments such as the cello, double bass, flute, and violin. Early School children were invited to try out percussion instruments, including tambourines, maracas, and finger cymbals, offering them a hands-on introduction to instruments and music.

The "Musical Petting Zoo" has become a beloved activity at St. Margaret’s. For many of the younger students, the experience marked a memorable moment of connection with their older peers and a glimpse into the world of music and performance.

Orchestra Director Linling Hsu expressed her enthusiasm for the event saying, "The Musical Petting Zoo is one of my favorite events of the school year. It warms my heart to see our Middle and Upper School students perform for and interact with our youngest Tartans. It’s such a meaningful way to introduce children to the magic of music and the idea of an orchestra as one big musical family. Letting them see, hear, and even touch the instruments plants seeds of curiosity and inspiration."

The morning concluded with a live performance of Red Rhythmico, showcasing the talent of the older students and leaving the Early School students with curiosity and inspiration. This event serves as a perfect example of St. Margaret’s commitment to fostering connection, creativity, and a love of learning across all grade levels.