Student Musicians Set to Enchant Holiday Audiences

— from Sharon Ho for Music Advocacy Group —

Dec 6, 13 and 20: Mark your calendars for holiday concerts by Orcas Island student musicians!

Every Thursday evening for the next three weeks, come and enjoy music concerts for the whole family. Concerts are free and open to the public.

This Thursday, December 6, at 7 p.m. in the High School gym, 5-8th grades band and strings groups have a lively program of holiday tunes in store. This year, the strings performance will feature two string bass players in 6th grade, while the 82-member band has added a bassoon to its instrumental line-up, along with the orchestral chimes that arrived this January—a gift from MAG purchased with funds raised from the 2017 OICF Holiday Catalog.

Expect a refreshing version of ‘Silent Night’ performed by 7-8th grade strings musicians, as well as a surprise holiday piece performed by 6-8th grade band students with narration by a High School student.

On December 13, at 7 p.m., Orcas Center will be the stage for the High School Concert. Orcas High School musicians have done us proud at many regional festivals and competitions. This is a wonderful opportunity to watch graduating seniors on stage in their last holiday performance together. In Strings, hear Paris Wilson and Nate Smith on violin, and in band, listen to Ethan White, Henry Moe, Phaedra Osborn, Luke Pietsch, Tim Jenson, Kayleigh Horton and Meg Waage.

In November, band members Tim Jenson and Ewan Lister participated in the Western International Band Clinic (WIBC) and performed under the baton of composer Ralph Hultgren and other renowned directors. And, Tim has made the All-Northwest Band, competing in an audition pool of 4,300 students from the NW region. Henry Moe and Kayleigh Horton were also accepted to honor groups at SJMEA and Pacific Lutheran University this fall. In Strings, an 8th grade student was honored with an invitation to audition for the London Carnegie Performance Series.

Wrapping up this holiday concert series is the ever-joyous Elementary Music Concert at the High School Gym on December 20 at 6.30 p.m. Over 200 children will be dressed in their holiday best and belting out songs with gusto, accompanied by students learning recorders, ukuleles and other string instruments. Smiles and good cheer are guaranteed.

The Music Advocacy Group thanks all our supporters for helping to sustain a quality music program at our public schools and we welcome you to enjoy the music making at school that our community has made possible for over two decades.

If you would like to give, we appreciate your contributions at OIMAG.org, or via mail at P.O. Box 1171, Eastsound, WA 98245. MAG is a 501(3)(c) organization and all donations are tax-deductible.

School Music Matters!