By Marion Filler
Teachers vs. Students. Now there’s a rivalry for Morristown OnStage.
David Gallagher, 29, and Ross Chu, 35, are used to teaching music to kids in the Morris School District. On Feb. 26, 2020, they’ll be showing what they can do–and competing against children for the audience choice award.
“I am not sure about this being a first for high school teachers, but it’s certainly awesome if it is,” said Gallagher, in his first year as director of bands at Morristown High School.
Fifteen amateur acts from Greater Morristown will perform at the Mayo Performing Arts Center, in a benefit for district programs. Tickets go on sale Wednesday.
Chu is Gallagher’s assistant director. Previously, the pair worked together at the Frelinghuysen Middle School, where Gallagher also was band director.
In the band there, they both taught Bobby Becht, a 15-year-old finalist this year. Gallagher also taught Bobbi Baitey, now a Morristown High School junior who is competing in Morristown Onstage.
Gallagher and Chu will perform Rumba, a classic piece published by Maurice C. Whitney in 1949.
Written for alto saxophone and band/orchestra, it later was pared down for piano and eventually transcribed for marimba. Gallagher will be on sax, Chu on five-octave marimba. It’s their first performance together.
“We don’t often get the opportunity to perform on our main instruments in front of the students, so they were definitely a little surprised watching us practice together in the high school band room,” Gallagher said.
Chu’s musical spark was ignited by a family trip to see Kodo, a taiko drumming group, when he was 5. That experience led to his playing in school ensembles, and private lessons beginning in 5th grade. Chu earned a degree in music education from Penn State, and a masters in percussion performance from Rutgers.
Gallagher (MHS ’09) remembers being a student when Morristown Onstage started.
“Back then, the high school jazz band played for the performance as a house band, and I always wanted to try out but just never had the time until now.
“I think that it would be a lot of fun to showcase my musical talents in the community that has given so much to me.”
Produced by the nonprofit Morris Educational Foundation, Morristown Onstage is open to amateurs who live, work or study in Morristown, Morris Township or Morris Plains, and to alumni of Morristown High School. From more than 60 acts that auditioned, 15 were chosen to compete on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020. Show business pros will award $1,000 to the top youth and adult performers, and the audience favorite will take home $500. Tickets go on sale Jan. 29. Proceeds benefit Morris School District programs.
