Music in Our Schools Month (MIOSM) is an annual celebration taking place in March which engages music educators, students, and communities from around the country in promoting the benefits of high quality music education programs in schools.

To celebrate MIOSM, we selected one student from each grade level to discuss what music means to them. First up is our conversation with senior Chris Conklin!



You’re heavily involved in both singing and playing instruments. Which of those do you prefer?

I feel like I’m naturally better at vocals, but I personally love playing instruments. 

Speaking of instruments, you have the ability to play many. Can you list the instruments you can play and tell us which one is your favorite?

So, I can play guitar, piano, and any of the percussion instruments for band and orchestra. And then I’m more beginner level at ukulele and the French horn. My favorite is the electric guitar. It’s so much fun. And there are so many different things you can do with it.

Moravia CSD recently held it’s MIOSM Chorus Concert, and the MIOSM Band Concert is scheduled for tonight. Can you tell us how special it is to perform in these district-wide events?

I love those concerts. Doing group performances is really fun. You get to see beginners and see how things progress over time. It’s really special.

Also happening this month is the high school musical. Can you just give us a little preview on how things have been going leading up to this year’s performances of “Mean Girls.”

I’m super excited. I absolutely love this show. I’ve been following it since it was on Broadway originally. I think it’s going to go really well. In the end, it will all pull together and it will be great.

Last question and probably the hardest one. Can you talk to us about how much music means to you, especially now that you’re a senior?

Music means everything to me. Music is so much different than anything else you can experience at school. And that’s because you have to depend on others. That’s the whole thing with music. And that’s what makes music so special. It creates such a strong community, and everyone brings their own special part to it.