The holiday season is often associated with donating one's time and talents for area charities and the local community. The Barrington High School Music Department is no different and has a full calendar of activities in December.

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A BHS student-led woodwind quintet featuring Grace Inman, Ali Teitz, Millie Harris, MaryKate DeRiso and Elizabeth Enos will be playing carols at St. John's Episcopal Church, St. Mary's of the Bay Catholic Church and the Barrington Congregational Church during the month of December. They also recently played at a TAP-IN fund-raiser held at the Rhode Island County Club.

"I am so proud of these girls for sharing their passion for music with the community in such an inspiring way. It will also be a great learning experience for them to see how three different denominations celebrate Christmas," said Barbara Hughes, director of instrumental music at Barrington High School. Ms. Hughes added that the BHS Jazz Ensemble recently enjoyed playing its traditional holiday gig to benefit the Barrington Preservation Society at the Barrington Congregational Church.

The BHS Choral Ensemble under the direction of Celeste Labonte has already sung at the town's tree lighting but there are still opportunities to hear them. Not only will they be singing at nursing homes and elementary schools throughout the month of December but they will also perform solo concerts at Linden Place in Bristol on Wednesday, Dec. 21 and on WPRV radio on Friday, Dec. 16 at 3 p.m. 

"It's a busy time of year but we are happy to have the opportunity to sing for the community and give back in this way," Ms. Hughes said.

Many singers and instrumentalists are also involved in a special program called "Meet In The Middle" which helps connect suburban and city schools through our mutual love of music. Organized by Regina McAdam, choral director at North Smithfield High School, and Ms. Hughes, and sponsored by several parent organizations, the program is expanding the opportunity for music-making with schools that have experienced extensive cutbacks in their respective budgets. 

The suburban schools "Meet In The Middle" with Central High School and Mt. Pleasant and will perform a free holiday concert at Providence College on Wednesday, Dec. 14 at 6 p.m. 

"We hope this inaugural program continues to grow each year," said Ms. Hughes.

Non-performing music classes are also getting into the act as well. 

Nahum Mitnik's audio production class helps to provide sound and audio for each BHS concert and coffeehouse events but also edits recordings of the performances and makes them available to student and parents. 

"This is a great hands-on project that puts the skills the students are learning in class into practice in a real, tangible way," said Mr. Mitnik. 

The next coffeehouse is Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 630 p.m. in the BHS Cafeteria.