The Camden Hills Regional High School Visual and Performing Arts Department named Eric Glaser as the May Student of the Month.  This recognition comes on the heels of a year of hard work within VPA classes and extra-curricular activities, especially on the stage of the Strom.  

Following four years of participation in the annual fall musical, Eric was cast as the lead role of Usnavi this year, in the CHRHS production of In the Heights.  

This role was his favorite of all the four years of musicals; not only because it was a lead role with a chance to “rap,” but also because he felt that it was a very strong cast, who all worked together and worked hard to pull off an exciting production.  

He estimated that each week was about 12 - 15 hours of work on the musical alone.  That in addition to classes, and prepping for college applications, made for a busy Fall.  However, Eric has been bitten by the theater bug.  He went on to play the role of “Zeus” in the Winter Production: The Idiot and the Oddity, and is currently playing the role of a director of a play within a play in the year’s Spring Production of Noises Off.

In addition to theater, Eric is a member of the CHRHS Chorale, Chamber Singers, and Off Beats and a four-year participant in the MMEA District III Honor Choir Festival.   His favorite Chamber Singer experience was last year’s trip to New York City with the chance to sing at the Riverside Church. 

Eric said: “The acoustics in the church were breathtaking.  It is something I will remember for the rest of my life.”  This is Eric’s second year with the student - led a cappella ensemble, The Off Beats, and his favorite experiences with them was the chance to sing to Veterans at the Veterans’ Day Breakfast, plus singing at Windward Gardens for a recent birthday celebration for one of their residents.  Eric encourages other students to get involved in the CHRHS arts, theater, and music programs.  He says “If you get into the arts, you are treated as a family.  It is something you will never forget.”

Eric will continue to be involved in the performing arts next year at University of Maine, Orono.  He plans on studying both Education and Performing Arts with the goal of becoming an elementary teacher.