Nine Newtown Musicians Involved—

Regional Musicians Tuning Up For

Fairfield County String Orchestra Music Festival

DANBURY — On Saturday, March 24, at 3 pm, The Fairfield County String Teachers Association will present its 38th Annual String Orchestra Music Festival.

Featured on this program will be three string orchestras with a total of over 170 area middle and junior high school students participating, representing 18 towns in the western region of Connecticut. Admission is $6 for adults, free for ages 13 and under.

The event is an enrichment experience for students who play stringed instruments recommended by their school music teachers and selected competitively by festival committees. It is the belief of the Fairfield County String Teachers Association that this concert experience will be a stimulating musical opportunity for the participants and will provide them with the motivation to advance in their musical studies.

In addition, the festival provides students from diverse backgrounds an opportunity to interact in a positive educational and social setting.

A public concert will be presented in White Hall, on the midtown campus of Western Connecticut State University, 181 White Street (near Fifth Avenue), as the culmination of the Festival weekend.

The conductors for the festival will be Joan Winters, ochestra director and clinician from Waterford, graduate of Ithaca College, leading the 6th and 7th Grade Orchestra, with Barbara DiFranco and Susan Jimenez teaching assistants. Newtown resident Talia Hankin is a member of this orchestra.

Anne Rupert, a professional freelance cellist and graduate of the Eastman School of Music, is leading the 8/9 Orchestra, with Keith Hedin and Wendy Delson assisting. Newtown musicians  Lydia Field, Gemma Dong Hyeon, Samuel Omalyer, Emma Jane Tallon and Halle Wilson are all members of this group.

Dr Rachel C. Lauber, assistant professor at Cornell University and a graduate of the University of Michigan doctoral conducting program, is directing the Honors Orchestra, with Leo Ficks assisting. Anna Pinckney of Newtown is a member of this orchestra.

The on site festival host is Laura Piechota of Western Connecticut State University.

The featured soloist at the festival will be string bassist Henry Carroll. Henry, now 18,  has been studying since he was nine years old. He is principal bassist with the Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestra, a four time Western Regional Festival participant, and an All State Connecticut Music Festival bassist.

The Fairfield County String Orchestra Music Festival is sponsored by the Fairfield County String Teachers Association. Membership in the association is open to school systems, public school string teachers and private studio string instrument instructors.               

For additional information contact Nancy McBrien, publicity and communications chairman, at 203-746-4311.