Schools

PRHS Students to Put on Pirate Palooza for Justin

Pearl River High School students are dedicating this year's Pirate Palooza to Justin Rogers, who passed away May 6, 2010 from to injuries suffered in an automobile accident.

This past fall, a group of Pearl River High School students approached Social Studies teacher Matt Rose, who is also the supervisor for the annual Pirate Palooza.

They wanted to use this year's Pirate Palooza to honor the memory of former classmate Justin Rogers, who died May 6, 2010 at the age of 15 from injuries suffered three days earlier in an automobile accident.

"They told me this was what they wanted to do, that they wanted to dedicate it to him, which I thought was great," Rose said. "He was in a band two years ago. He was just starting to play, but he was very into it. (The music kids) all knew him pretty well."

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The students suggested calling the event Palooza for Justin, which will be held Friday at the high school on the one-year anniversary of Rogers' passing. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the show starting at approximately 7 p.m.

"It's not really a contest, but more of an exhibition of the different kids involved in music at Pearl River High School," Rose said. "They set it up on their own. These seniors play the end. The  younger kids play the beginning. They rotate. You start off first act and move up. The goal would be to headline."

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Among the senior standouts is Kim O'Toole.

"She's very talented," Rose said. "She spent last summer touring Portugal with an Irish string band."

Rose said the students perform mostly original music.

"It's pretty cool that they are writing their own music and this is their chance to play it," Rose said.

One of the bands will be performing a song called "Sea of Red," a reference to students wearing red and releasing red balloons in honor of Rogers last May. Rose said that Rogers' brother, Brendan, a senior, will also do something with the one of the bands Friday night.


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