PASCACK VALLEY—Pascack Valley High School Tri-M Music Honor Society students and their advisor, Mrs. Argine Safari, performed a free concert on Sunday, March 5 for the residents at the Jewish Home at River Vale.
Some of the high school’s most talented and accomplished musicians entertained residents with a varied repertoire of vocal and instrumental pieces.
The students were thrilled to share their talents and treat the residents to an uplifting performance of a range of beautiful and meaningful music, including well-known songs such as “Orange Colored Sky,” “At Last,” “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” and “All of Me.”
Tri-M Music Honor Society Members who participated in the concert are Elizabeth Barlow, Gabrielle Brayman, Alex De Biasio, Ally Elek, Evie Higgins, Minche Kim, Samantha Lagrosa, Nathan Prins, Ming-Jing Qin, Ming-Lang Qin, Ming-Yang Qin, Kareena Shah, Richard Tracz, and Juan Zapateiro.
The district told Pascack Press on March 21, “The residents’ response was so enthusiastic, the students performed several songs for an encore and encouraged audience members to sing along.”
It said, “A memorable and joyful time was had by all who attended and the students were filled with gratitude for being able to share their talents with such an appreciative audience.”
Tri-M says online that it welcomes student musicians in grades 6–12. There are more than 2,100 chapters in all 50 states, involving more than 84,000 students.
The society says that beyond “shining a bright light on their school’s music programs,” these future leaders contribute more than 750,000 service hours in their local communities.
PVHS’s chapter says, “Tri-M is the only nationally recognized Music Honor Society for high school musicians. Our school’s chapter consists of accomplished instrumental and vocal musicians who aim to promote the arts in our area as well as support music programs in underprivileged public schools in the area. This society is run by Ms. Safari and includes students from both our band and choir.”
It adds, “We love to perform for our school community, as well as outside our community, to raise awareness of the Arts and emphasize the importance of music and music education. We strive to continuously improve our musicianship and leadership skills and are proud to participate in honors bands and choirs, representing the best that PV’s music department has to offer.”
Safari, who’s been teaching in Hillsdale since 2005 — and established Tri-M here — is 2017 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year, among her many accolades. Fluent in Armenian and Russian, she’s taught repertoire in more than 20 languages.
Her bio notes she’s “passionate about transforming the lives of her students through the power of music. In 2005, she came to Pascack Valley High School district and developed a nationally recognized vocal program. Under her direction, Pascack Valley choirs earned numerous awards and accolades, traveling nationally from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles, Calif.; and internationally to Canada and Ireland, where their renditions of Irish songs were played on the Irish national radio.”
Her students are consistently accepted to top universities, conservatories and honor ensembles around the country.
She is director of music and organist at Christ Lutheran Church, and is active as a clinician and chamber musician, having performed at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, and Zankel Hall, among others.
In 2013, Safari co-founded a non-profit youth theater arts company, Stage Scene and Song Performing Arts, 3sPA, open to any New Jersey students in grades 6–12, and has since been serving as its artistic director, with a mission to transform and empower its participants, foster a tremendous sense of community and an appreciation for contribution.
She says she believes that “through strong art programs in our public education, our students who are educationally, culturally and linguistically diverse, develop confidence, leadership qualities, and discover their unique talents.”
See her robust curriculum vitae and much more at arginesafari.com. For more information visit pvhsmusic.org or write safari@pascack.org.