Many were seated inside Reed Intermediate School’s cafetorium for the evening presentation of the Newtown Orchestra String Fest on Tuesday, February 24.

The districtwide concert was performed by orchestra students in grades 5 to 12. The public was welcome to attend, and most attendees were parents or siblings of the orchestra students.

Newtown’s Director of Music, Newtown High School Fine Arts Department Chair, and NHS Orchestra Director Michelle Hiscavitch welcomed the audience members to the event and said she was excited to have students from across the grade levels play that evening.

“This is an opportunity for you to see where your children are going,” Ms Hiscavitch said to parents of the younger students who would witness more advanced levels of the orchestra program throughout the evening.

Over time, Ms Hiscavitch said orchestra students make tremendous progress in their studies.

“We’re very proud of all that they accomplish,” said Ms Hiscavitch.

Ms Hiscavitch added that it is the orchestra instructors’ pleasure to provide a glimpse at the orchestra program for parents and thanked the parents for their support.

After the introduction, the different grade levels of orchestra students played in a “round-robin” format, taking turns playing for the audience.

Songs performed during the evening included “Cabbage Shoo,” “The Muppet Show Theme,” “Fanfare,” “Moonlight Serenade,” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.”

Following the event Ms Hiscavitch said the String Fest was held to both bring students together to perform and share music-making progress and to share the future of what orchestra students will be learning in the program.

“All students performed well and we were very pleased with the concert,” said Ms Hiscavitch. “Many parents commented that they enjoyed seeing and hearing the progress that occurs as students increase their musical literacy in learning more advanced technique and repertoire. They walked away with an excitement about what the musical future holds for their children.”