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JUNE 14, 2022— Students at the Pal-Mac Intermediate School sang along and showed off their knowledge during a celebration of a major milestone in Wayne County Monday afternoon.
Students and their families joined songwriters Nancy and John Bryan, NEH music educator and nationally-recognized performer, Dave Ruch, for a concert under a pavilion at the Erie Canal Park in Macedon to perform a song about the iconic and historic Erie Canal. The song also celebrated Wayne County and the Town of Macedon’s bicentennial celebration, which will take place in 2023.
The song, "Erie Canal, Part of my Home," was arranged by the Bryans, as well as students, parents and community members. As we first told you back in February, the community was asked to fill out a survey which asked several questions about people's knowledge of the canal. The Bryans then took those answers and wrote the song.
The students sang the chorus, while Nancy sang the rest of the parts.
PHOTO GALLERY: Erie Canal Concert
The effort was all part of a partnership between PMI and the Macedon Public Library. The library was awarded grant funding from a number of organizations to produce the song.
The song was performed as the opening act for a larger concert by Ruch, who sang traditional songs about the canal, and gave students the opportunity to learn about different instruments played back in the day. Ruch also called on students to answer different facts related to the history of the canal
Intermediate School Interim Principal Jennifer Check said partnership made sense because the canal project is relevant to what the students are learning in class.
“We are excited about this project and the integrated learning opportunities it provides,” Check said. “It is a great way to gear up for the bicentennial celebrations.”
Pal-Mac Superintendent Dr. Robert Ike added;
"I want to express how honored we are for the students at the Palmyra-Macedon Intermediate School to be selected for this project. Not only was this a great learning experience for the students, but it was a fun way to strengthen our mission to create positive community connections."
Funding for the project came from the Statewide Community Regrants Program of New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by Auburn Public Theater.