Music Going Strong at Orcas Schools

— from Kristen Wilson —

A whopping 100 students in 5th to 12th grade are enrolled in music this year at Orcas Island Schools.

“This is the largest group of string players I’ve ever had,” said Pamela Wright, Director of Strings at Orcas Island Schools. “We have 17 players in our 5th-6th grade strings group and 13 players in Middle School Strings, and we’re holding steady with 10 members in High School Strings, and these numbers do not include all the young players coming up in Beginning Strings.”

Wright teaches a Beginning Strings after-school class that is expected this year to have about 16 students in 2nd through 4th grades.  It bears reminding that just 13 years ago there was no strings program at all on Orcas; Wright has built the program from the ground up. “I have High School juniors in strings now who first began lessons with me when they were in the 2nd grade,” said Wright.

Darren Dix, second-year Band Director at Orcas, has also attracted a large number of new band students. He has 14 students in 5th grade band, 19 students in 6th grade band, 16 students in Middle School Band and 11 students in High School Band.

“Music becomes an ‘elective’ in Middle School,” said Dix. “In other words, it’s no longer required once you hit 7th grade.  And we’ve noticed that more and more students are choosing to continue playing in Middle and High School.  So I think that says a lot about the strength of our music program,” he added. “We’re looking forward to a great year in school music.”

This year, for the first time, the Middle School Band will compete at Jr. Band Contest in April.  Middle School Strings, High School Strings and High School Band members will return to contests next winter and spring.  Mark your calendar for the first high school concert of the year on Thursday, December 4.  High School Strings, Band, and combined Orcas Youth Orchestra will perform at Orcas Center at 7 p.m.