Choir teacher Kelly Butler guides the North Bethesda eighth grade students in singing “Sambonani,” a traditional South African song. “At our concert, there is a section where we sing those same pieces that we teach to them, and if they want to come on stage and sing with us, they can,” junior Yibela Gebretsadik said. (Courtesy AJ Moncada)

Eighth grade chorus students from North Bethesda Middle School took a field trip to WJ on Wednesday, Dec. 4 to listen to and sing with the WJ Choir. “It was a very fun experience visiting WJ and getting a glimpse of what going here will be like next year,” eighth grader Erin Diamond said. (Courtesy AJ Moncada)

WJ choir students stand off to the sides of the stage, singing with the 8th grade chorus students. “Our music program, a very diverse community, is amazing. We want to keep their love for music here at WJ, we want them to maintain that same love for choir like we do,” junior Yibela Gebretsadik said. (Courtesy AJ Moncada)

North Bethesda Middle School eighth grade chorus students wait for Madrigals and the three WJ acapella groups to perform. The event was aimed at encouraging the students to continue to pursue music and join these organizations during their freshman year.