Information provided by BHS

The Ballard Chamber Orchestra are headed to a national convention in March and will be representing Ballard on a national stage.

The Ballard High Chamber Orchestra is among 21 orchestras to be invited to perform at the National Orchestra Festival, March 3 – 4, presented by the American String Teacher’s Association in Tampa Bay, Florida. This will be the first time that the Ballard Chamber Orchestra will be represented at the National Festival.

This group of string players auditions for their spots in the Chamber group. They are hard at work preparing nearly an hour of music for their performance in Tampa. This opportunity is indicative of the level of excellence this program is reaching. Director Brittany Newell is building the strings program with her musicianship, her enthusiasm, and her ability to connect with the students. In addition to Chamber Orchestra, she directs Symphonic Orchestra and Fiddle Ensemble.

While in Tampa Bay, students will be attending master classes, workshops and research sessions by many of the leading musicians, academics and pedagogues in strings from across the country (Berklee School of Music in Boston, Jacobs School of Music in Indiana, Northwestern University, Julliard School of Music). Students will attend the National Solo Competition and enjoy performances by the top youth soloists from across the country, as well as world-renowned violinist, Jeremy Kittel.

This opportunity for travel and for exposure to top-level instruction and performance helps these young musicians take leaps in musicianship and in personal growth. They are already learning about focus, commitment, and teamwork. They will represent Ballard well at the National Orchestra Festival.