St. Margaret’s Orchestra Connect with Early School Students to Try Musical Instruments

The spirit of collaboration and joyful learning was on full display this week as St. Margaret's students came together for a morning of music and connection in the Darcy Rice Center for the Arts.

In the annual cross-divisional event, Upper and Middle School orchestra students hosted an “instrument petting zoo” for their younger peers from the Early School, creating a hands-on, interactive experience that brought the PreK–12 cross-divisional learning to life.

The event offered Early School students the chance to see, hear, and even play a range of orchestral instruments up close. Demonstrations of the cello, double bass, flute, and violin captivated the Early School students, many of whom eagerly interacted with the older students. 

A table filled with percussion instruments including tambourines, maracas, gourd shakers, bells, guiros, and finger cymbals invited curious Early School students to explore rhythm and sound.

Beyond the petting zoo, the older students also performed several orchestral pieces for the Early School, including a crowd-pleasing excerpt from Disney’s Frozen. The performance gave the youngest Tartans a glimpse into the possibilities of musical expression and collaboration.

“The instrument petting zoo is about joyful discovery, the wonder of sound, teamwork, and creativity,” said Linling Hsu, orchestra director. “Every child leaves having heard something new, played an instrument, and felt the magic of live music.”

The event highlighted the school’s commitment to fostering meaningful connections across grade levels, reinforcing St. Margaret’s mission to cultivate a vibrant, inclusive learning environment of a student’s educational journey.