Readington Middle School (RMS), in partnership with the Whitehouse Wind Symphony, premiered Viking Spirit, an original composition by Christopher W. Johnson, on May 12. The performance brought RMS students and community musicians together for a unique collaboration in the school’s cafetorium.
“We were so excited to premiere Viking Spirit,” said RMS Band Director Samantha Lestrange. “The piece really captured the spirit of our band and our school. It was incredible to work with the Whitehouse Wind Symphony and see our students benefit from that experience.”
Johnson, a trombonist and founder of CWJ Music House Publications, is a longtime music educator whose works have appeared on Bandworld Magazine’s Top 100 list.
The Whitehouse Wind Symphony, based in central New Jersey and directed by James P. Sheeley Jr., features about 50 musicians from across the region and was recently named a 2025 Hunterdon Happening List winner.
The concert also included performances by the RMS eighth grade band, Jazz Band and seventh and eighth grade orchestra.