by Jasmine Liu ‘25
Photo: St. Mark’s School’s official plaque for the Tri-M Honor Society chapter
Photo credits: Mr. Fontes
Starting from last year, St. Mark’s School implemented student leader positions for Fifth and Sixth form students who have a passion for art: whether it be music, visual arts, ceramics, or theater. These leaders help represent the St. Mark’s Art Department by planning and facilitating significant events like opening nights and One-Act performances for theater, music performances and trips, ceramic studio help, gallery set-ups, and art show curation. Through an application and selection process, the music department chose four music prefects – Erin Rasmussen (VI), Abby Hayes (VI), Jasmine Liu (V), and Hannah Cha (V) – to facilitate the arrival of our new music director, Mr. Fontes, and assist him with any musical initiatives, including Tri-M Honors Society.
Tri-M Honors Society is a program of the National Association of Music Education (NAfME) focused on creating future leaders in service and music advocacy. In essence, Tri-M provides students with leadership opportunities to make a difference in their communities through music and/or service-based projects including performing music for local senior centers & hospitals, fundraising, and tutoring younger musicians. To be a member, students would have to be a Vth or VIth Form student in one of the primary ensembles (jazz band, choir, orchestra) and be admitted through an application process involving a brief essay and performance with their primary instrument.
On October 4th, 2023, St. Mark’s School became the 9507th chapter of the Tri-M Honors Society across the US. A few weeks ago, the music prefects announced the establishment of the chapter in an all-school meeting, welcoming students for an information session. To get the chapter running, the department opened applications for the Honor Society. With the implementation of this new chapter, student musicians at St. Mark’s are able to become more involved in their local communities through outside performances, engage in fundraising projects, and collaborate with other schools under a shared passion for music.