Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music
Encyclopedia
Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music (CCBxHSM) is the first of its kind in the Bronx
, New York
. Founded by current Principal Dr. William Rodriguez, this small school includes multiple vocal and instrumental ensembles.
. With a freshmen class of just over 90 students, the school had four classrooms and two offices inside Clinton and an office, a choral room, a storage closet, and use of the band room in Lehman College
. The school now has one half of the top floor of the Walton Campus building.
During its first school year, CCBxHSM performed for various constituencies such as the Chancellor Joel Klein
, Pedro Knight (husband of Celia Cruz), Mayor Michael Bloomberg
, and FAME
. They also performed in Lincoln Center
and in CitiGroup Jazz Festivals. Their annual Winter and Spring Concerts are held in the Lovinger Theater in Lehman College.
Halfway into its first year, CCBxHSM received news that the school was to be relocated from Clinton High School to the Walton Campus
. Rumours abounded, including word that the Alumni Association of Clinton was not happy with CCBxHSM's overshadowing of Clinton. Enraged parents protested and petitioned for the school to stay in Clinton, but the efforts were fruitless. The school began its second year on the third floor of the Walton Campus.
June 2007 finds the school with its first graduating class. It is estimated that 92% of the senior class will graduate on time.
In addition to a strong and rigorous academic program, there is an intense music program. There are four types of ensembles in CCBxHSM: Vocal, Strings, Band, and Piano. Within the three types of ensembles exist subdivisions. Students with vocal abilities, for example, go into a freshmen choir during their first year. Then, if they have passed all of their classes, they audition to be placed in either Women's Choir (under the direction of Ms. Jackie Bergland), Show Choir or The Sweet Adelines (both under the direction of Ms. Lisa Gwasda) for their second year. However if the students do not qualify for any of the choirs they will go to Vocal Tech (also under the direction of Ms. Jackie Bergland) where they will learn to improve their voices and sight reading. With the band, students go to freshmen band during their first year, then audition for either Symphonic or Concert Band for their sophomore, junior, or senior year. String students go into a freshmen string ensemble for their first year, then audition for either Concert, Symphonic or Chamber String ensembles thereafter.
Within CCBxHSM lies a myriad of extracurricular ensembles open to students passing all of their classes.
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Founded by current Principal Dr. William Rodriguez, this small school includes multiple vocal and instrumental ensembles.
History
CCBxHSM opened in 2003 inside DeWitt Clinton High SchoolDeWitt Clinton High School
DeWitt Clinton High School is an American high school located in the Bronx, New York City, New York.-History:Clinton opened in 1897 at 60 West 13th Street at the northern end of Greenwich Village under the name of Boys High School, although this Boys High School was not related to the one in Brooklyn...
. With a freshmen class of just over 90 students, the school had four classrooms and two offices inside Clinton and an office, a choral room, a storage closet, and use of the band room in Lehman College
Lehman College
Lehman College is one of the constituent colleges of the City University of New York, USA. Founded in 1931 as the Bronx campus of Hunter College, the school became an independent college within the City University in 1968. The college is named after Herbert Lehman, a former New York governor,...
. The school now has one half of the top floor of the Walton Campus building.
During its first school year, CCBxHSM performed for various constituencies such as the Chancellor Joel Klein
Joel Klein
Joel Irwin Klein was Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, the largest public school system in the United States, serving more than 1.1 million students in more than 1,600 schools...
, Pedro Knight (husband of Celia Cruz), Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
, and FAME
FAME Studios
FAME Studios are located at 603 East Avalon in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. They have been an integral part of American popular music from the late 1950s to the present...
. They also performed in Lincoln Center
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts is a complex of buildings in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of New York City's Upper West Side. Reynold Levy has been its president since 2002.-History and facilities:...
and in CitiGroup Jazz Festivals. Their annual Winter and Spring Concerts are held in the Lovinger Theater in Lehman College.
Halfway into its first year, CCBxHSM received news that the school was to be relocated from Clinton High School to the Walton Campus
Walton High School (New York City)
Walton High School was a secondary school located in the Kingsbridge neighborhood of the Bronx borough in New York.Walton's colors were sky blue and white. Its motto Semper Fidelis means "always faithful". The school seal is an open book supported by the torch of learning, and the school crest...
. Rumours abounded, including word that the Alumni Association of Clinton was not happy with CCBxHSM's overshadowing of Clinton. Enraged parents protested and petitioned for the school to stay in Clinton, but the efforts were fruitless. The school began its second year on the third floor of the Walton Campus.
June 2007 finds the school with its first graduating class. It is estimated that 92% of the senior class will graduate on time.
CCBxHSM today
Today, the Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music is at its full capacity of 365 students. Competition for entry into the school has grown as well.In addition to a strong and rigorous academic program, there is an intense music program. There are four types of ensembles in CCBxHSM: Vocal, Strings, Band, and Piano. Within the three types of ensembles exist subdivisions. Students with vocal abilities, for example, go into a freshmen choir during their first year. Then, if they have passed all of their classes, they audition to be placed in either Women's Choir (under the direction of Ms. Jackie Bergland), Show Choir or The Sweet Adelines (both under the direction of Ms. Lisa Gwasda) for their second year. However if the students do not qualify for any of the choirs they will go to Vocal Tech (also under the direction of Ms. Jackie Bergland) where they will learn to improve their voices and sight reading. With the band, students go to freshmen band during their first year, then audition for either Symphonic or Concert Band for their sophomore, junior, or senior year. String students go into a freshmen string ensemble for their first year, then audition for either Concert, Symphonic or Chamber String ensembles thereafter.
Within CCBxHSM lies a myriad of extracurricular ensembles open to students passing all of their classes.
- Jazz Band
- Latin Band
- Saxophone Ensemble
- String Quartet
- Rock Band
- Woodwind Quintet
- Dance group
External links
- Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music - official site