From across West Tennessee there were 300 students from 28 schools auditioning for spots in a regional honors orchestra last month.
And four LMPS Orchestra students made the cut to be included in the All-West Tennessee Honors Orchestra. They are among 77 students chosen and will perform Feb. 14-16 at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis.
The audition was Nov. 17 at Briarcrest Christian School.
Paula Turner, orchestra director at LMPS (Lakeland Middle Preparatory School), said the four students are: Seventh-graders Marian Jamora and Sarah Wang and eighth-grader Michelle Xue who will represent LMPS in the violin section of the orchestra; and sixth-grader Grace Choi will perform in the viola section.
Mrs. Turner said Marian received an additional honor at the audition. She scored the highest of over 150 violins, so she will occupy the position of concertmaster or first chair.
The All-West Middle School Orchestra will join with the other honors instrumental ensembles, including two high school orchestras, two middle school and four high school concert bands, and two high school jazz bands, to perform in February, said Mrs. Turner.
The All-West Honors Orchestras and Bands are sponsored by the West Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association (WTSBOA). Their website is wtsboa.org. The All-West honors concerts in February are part of the WTSBOA Convention of instrumental music educators at the Cook Convention Center the same February dates.
LMPS opened to grades 5-8 in August 2017. Lakeland high school students attend Arlington High School through an interlocal between the two cities, until a Lakeland high school is built.
… Photos courtesy of Caolyn Snyder, an 8th grader at LMPS.
