A recruiting trip is also a pleasure trip for members of the Bridgewater-Raritan High School Symphonic Choir.
The students and Lisa Rotondi, the Director of Choirs at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, made the short drive on the morning of Friday, October 23, to the school district’s two Intermediate Schools, Eisenhower and Hillside, to perform their annual “Tour de Bridgewater.”
Their mission was not only to promote the highly regarded choir program at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, but also to enjoy a journey back to their roots and to shout out to their former teachers, whom they still cherish.
Two of these members from this gifted Symphonic Choir—seniors Violet Stephens and Luke Gill—expressed their joy at coming back home, while showing off the opportunity for these 4th and 5th Graders to one day become members.
“This is one of the funner days of the year,” said Violet while she and her choirmates were waiting to perform before the students and staff at their second stop—Hillside.”We remember that we were one of these students once.”
“We look forward to seeing the kids,” said Luke.
For Violet, who attended Eisenhower, and Luke, who was a student at Hillside, this visit enhances the high school’s choir program.
“This is a great promotion for our choir,” they both agreed.
The party, which also included student observer Liz Caplan from Montclair State University, launched the morning venture before a jammed gymnasium at Eisenhower, filled with students and staff. The Hillside gym was also packed with students and staff during the nightcap of this entertaining doubleheader.
The passionate Ms. Rotondi explained the purpose of this widely popular “Tour de Bridgewater.”
“Our annual trip to the Intermediate Schools, dubbed the "Tour de Bridgewater," is one of our favorite days of the year. I love that our high school students get to revisit the halls of their former schools and share messages of gratitude with teachers who helped shape them into the people they are today,” Ms. Rotondi said. “We have so many amazing educators here in the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District who deserve to be lauded for their work!”
Ms. Rotondi shared the mission behind the songs that were performed.
“ We also programmed a set of music that addresses themes of positivity, working together, and resilience. We hope this will inspire our young musicians in the weeks and months to come. “
Those songs are listed below.
The 2026 “Tour de Bridgewater” program included:
Tuba & Namhla Kudibene, trad. South African, arr. Michael Barrett
Unclouded Day, American folk song, arr. Shawn Kirchner
Soon We Will Be Done, trad. spiritual, arr. Kyle Pederson
Still I Rise, Rosephanye & William Powell, with text inspired by Maya Angelou
Here is a video clip of the Symphonic Choir's "Tour de Bridgewater."
Bridgewater-Raritan High School Symphonic Choir during "Tour de Bridgewater"