Over 1,000 students from around Rhode Island participated in the Rhode Island Philharmonic’s “Link Up” program last week at the Vets Auditorium in Providence.

Many Cranston third-, fourth- and fifth-graders were in the packed audience for one of the six special programs, titled “The Orchestra Rocks.”

Thursday was the day for Cranston students to shine, as the Cranston East Chorus sang on stage with the Philharmonic and the Cranston East Drumline brought students and teachers to their feet with a rousing closing presentation.

The R.I. Philharmonic teamed up with a number of sponsors, including Cranston’s Taco/White Family Foundation, Hasbro, Colette and the RI State Council on the Arts, to conduct a program that was developed by the Weill Music Institute at Carnegie Hall.

Under the directions of conductor Francisco Noya and host Trinity actor Joe Wilson Jr., the orchestra truly rocked.

The program begins in the classroom, where a number of students learn a number of musical pieces on their recorders and then play along with the orchestra. The rest of the students join in clapping and singing.

Playing everything from Carl Orff’s “O Fortuna” to the fourth movement of Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony #4,” the orchestra enthralled the students with a variety of musical forms, turning them on to classical and pop music that truly rocked.

The R.I. Philharmonic Orchestra and Music School are to be commended for encouraging young people to understand and enjoy good music. Hopefully, many of the students attending the “Link Up” programs will go on to pursue music as a career, or at the least, become future subscribers to our wonderful R.I. Philharmonic Orchestra.