High school students invited to weekend science, music, and dance classes

Two new Randolph programs are offering high school students the opportunity to participate in free college workshops in science, music, and dance this fall.

Learn more about Science Saturdays

Science Saturdays, a series of 10 weekend science programs, will take place every Saturday from October 5 through Dec. 14. Sessions will cover topics such as organic gardening, neuroscience with cockroaches, the science of dietary supplements, and the challenge of launching a rocket that can carry an egg safely to the ground.

“This is an opportunity to get a real hands-on, college laboratory experience,” said Peter Sheldon, a Randolph physics professor who helped plan Science Saturdays. “Science Saturdays provides a great opportunity for students to explore diverse and engaging science topics.”

Learn more about Randolph: First String

Randolph: First String is a full-day program with Luca Trombetta, a Randolph music instructor, on October 19. “Luca is a fabulous musician who has played in some significant venues under some very significant conductors, and we’re very fortunate to have him,” said Randall Speer, a music professor coordinating Randolph: First String.

Participants in the program will perform pieces from an audition package for Trombetta and Speer. “We will critique the strength of the audition itself and give them pointers on what they should do to strengthen that audition,” Speer said. “It will be valuable information for them.”

Trombetta also will lead a master class in which selected participants will play their instruments on stage. Trombetta will then help these students improve their skills, allowing the participants in the audience to discover ways they can address challenges in their own playing.

The Randolph College Department of Dance also will host a master class for local high school students. Invitation to Dance will be held on October 26 with two classes taught by Dominique Palmer and Pam Risenhoover, as well as a forum for local dance instructors.

Randolph created Science Saturdays and Randolph: First String to reach out to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, introduce them to college-level instruction, and let them meet Randolph’s nationally-acclaimed faculty. Both of these programs are free, but seats are limited. Learn more about these programs, and register to attend, at www.randolphcollege.edu/sciencesaturdays and www.randolphcollege.edu/firststring.