By Andrew Chang, Mercersburg Academy Class of 2026
MERCERSBURG – Mercersburg Academy’s Jazz Band, Chorale and a cappella groups (octet, magalia and magtet) will take the stage for the Fall Pops Concert on Friday, Oct. 31, at 7:30 p.m. in the Burgin Center for the Arts’ Simon Theatre. The performance is free and open to the public and will feature a mix of vocal and instrumental selections from Mercersburg’s student musicians.
The concert brings together all of the school’s vocal ensembles—magalia, octet, magtet and chorale—under the direction of faculty member James Brinson, along with the Jazz Band, directed by faculty member Shami Beni. “I’m happy that all vocal ensembles are performing,” Brinson said. “They have been working hard. I encourage everyone to come and support their fellow students who have put in a lot of preparation time.”
For Beni, the Pops Concert represents the culmination of months of work and a chance for students to share their growth. “I’m excited for the kids to put on the stuff they’ve been working hard on since August,” he said. “This is a new group—we’ve had a lot of changes in the music department with a bunch of seniors graduating—so I’m eager to see how this group faces the battle of performing in front of their peers and colleagues.”
The Fall Pops Concert is a celebration of creativity, collaboration, and community—an evening that showcases the musical heart of Mercersburg’s arts program.
Beni encourages everyone to attend and experience the joy of live performance. “Support your homies. Support the arts,” he said with a smile. “Most of all, support live music. I mean, when’s the next time you’re gonna get live music?”
