Harriton Freshman Joins VH1's Save the Music Contest

freshman Aliza Berger has known music was something she loved since she was young.

Aliza started with the recorder at school, then took up percussion and timpani, trumpet and guitar. Now, guitar is her main instrument, and she does a lot of songwriting, she said. She also participates in select chorus.

“I felt a sense of belonging I didn’t quite get in the classroom,” said Aliza, of Bryn Mawr.

She also watches a lot of VH1, and one morning her mom woke her up to show her singer Kelly Clarkson talking on TV about VH1’s Save the Music campaign, which aims to keep music programs in classrooms. 

“I couldn’t imagine kids who share similar passions with me not being able to express themselves,” Aliza said.

Aliza decided to make a video for the campaign. She wrote, directed, filmed and edited the video, with some help from , Welsh Valley Middle School and fellow Harriton High School students, according to a news item on lmsd.org.

“It was really essential to show the progression from first grade through 12th grade,” Aliza said. “I just instantly came up with this concept.”

She called the video “The 12 Voices of Reason” and said she couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.

“I’m so thrilled with the finished product,” Aliza said. “When you have a vision in your mind and it actually translates, there’s just nothing like that.”

There have been more than 200 submissions, and the voting deadline is Friday, she said.

“I feel so passionate about the cause,” said Aliza. “It just means so much to me, and I think it’s a great way to get the community involved.”

The Lower Merion School District community can play a role in helping Aliza win the Save the Music contest and earn up to $5,000 for school music programs. Visit Aliza's page to watch the video and click "Like" to cast your vote. You can vote more than once. Get your friends to vote by referring them, and you can win an iTunes gift card.

“I know that whatever I’m going to be doing, whether it be a music teacher or doing something totally not relevant to music whatsoever, I know music will still be a part of my life,” Aliza said.