Orcas Music Students, from left Paris Wilson, Olivia Brunner-Gaydos, Emily Toombs, Maggie Page, Devon Mann, Michael Chesher and Evan Tidrington, with Strings Director Pamela Wright in back.
From Kristen Wilson for Music Advocacy Group (MAG)
Seven musicians from Orcas Middle School and 6th grade were accepted at this year’s Junior Honor Festival which took place on Saturday, May 4, at North Whidbey Middle School in Oak Harbor. Presented by the San Juan Music Educators Association, the Festival hosted some of the top musicians (233 students from 23 area middle schools) at an all-day rehearsal, concluding with a concert.
Devon Mann and Maggie Page participated in the Junior Honor Band conducted by Parker Bixby, Band Director for Mercer Island High School. The Honor Band prepared three selections: “April” by Aaron Perrine, “Adrenaline Engines” by Randal Strandbridge and the beautiful “Earth Dance” by Michael Sweeney. “This is an experience that our kids will not soon forget,” said Martin Lund, Orcas Band Director. “To play with an 80-member band, and to be a part of that big sound – it’s life-changing.”
Olivia Brunner-Gaydos, Michael Chesher, Evan Tidrington, Emily Toombs and Paris Wilson were selected for the Junior Honor Orchestra, conducted by Anna Edwards, Music Director at Roosevelt High School in Seattle where she has built the orchestra into a nationally-recognized program. They played Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto, No.3” and three movements from Norman Leyden’s “Serenade for String Orchestra.” “Anna Edwards is a wonderful conductor,” said Pamela Wright, Orcas Strings Director. “Our students learned so much!”
The Orcas School Music Program was additionally honored by the Conductor’s selection of violinist Paris Wilson as the Concertmaster for the 63-member Honor Orchestra.
Congratulations! I am so proud of the Orcas student musicians and all they are achieving. That indicates to me that our teachers of music, in school and privately, are stellar as well. And it means that MAG gets major kudos for supporting music education and stressing its importance. Thank you students and teachers for showing Orcas’ best!