Fifth grade students from Pennington Traditional School took center stage at the Unity Reed High School auditorium to present their concert, "Compose Yourself!" This special performance was the culmination of a unique project that combined visual art and music composition, funded by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the Prince William County Arts Council. 

The project began with a grant written by Debra Stewart, Pennington Traditional’s elementary music teacher and middle school choir director. The grant provided funding for students to visit the ArtFactory in Manassas, where they viewed a gallery display and selected pieces of artwork as inspiration for their musical compositions.  

Each class was then visited by Kid Pan Alley, the Artist in Residence, who guided the students through the process of composing music that described their chosen artwork. 

The concert featured three original student-composed pieces, each inspired by a different work of art: 

• "No Place to Call Home" was inspired by “Mars: A Desolate Landscape," with the students writing poetry and setting it to music to describe the artwork.  

• "Everlasting Quest" drew inspiration from "Roundabout Number Six," a circular piece of art that led the students to imagine life on a swirling planet within a solar system.  

• "Looking Through the Window," was inspired by "Tiled," an artwork resembling a grid pattern that the students equated with the challenges of transitioning from fifth grade to middle school. 

The performance was a celebration of the students' hard work and creativity.

"Tonight was pure joy," said Stewart. "We got to perform the pieces of music that the students composed during those work sessions with our guest composers, and we practiced them in class. Tonight, we got to share them with families and the world." 

Students also shared their excitement about the project. Elizabeth, a fifth grader, said her favorite part was choosing paintings and taking a trip to SeaWorld. Grace, another student, enjoyed putting the songs together and creating memories with friends. Tucker shared his excitement about working with the guest composers to bring their music to life. 

The evening also marked the debut of the new Pennington Traditional School song, composed during the project. The event was a testament to how visual art and music can come together to inspire imagination, expression, and unity among students.