Three Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts students were selected for the Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association South Region Orchestra.
Seniors Amanda Carson of Russellville and Victoria Hwang of Maumelle and junior Aly Navarro are participating in this year’s South Region Orchestra clinic at Mills University Studies High School in Little Rock. The clinic is being held Sept. 20-21.
Carson will represent ASMSA as the principal bassoonist in the all-region Senior High Full Orchestra. Hwang was selected as fourth chair, first violin and Navarro was chosen as a second violin section player for the same orchestra. Auditions were held Sept. 14 at Conway High School. Nearly 600 students audition for spots in each of the three orchestras with the Senior High Orchestra reserved for the top players in grades 10-12 throughout the southern two-thirds of Arkansas, said Dr. Thomas Dempster, music instructor and band director at ASMSA.
“I am proud of these three students for auditioning and placing into all-region orchestra,” Dempster said. “Many students in Arkansas do not get the opportunity to perform in full-orchestra settings, and I’m grateful that the Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association sponsors this event.
“I’ve been teaching Amanda and Victoria for the past year and have witnessed some remarkable musical growth in both of them, and neither shy away from a challenge. I’ve just met Aly this year, but I’m pleased with her talent and ability and willingness to audition for something so competitive.”
The South Region Orchestra Clinic occurs annually in September. The concert for all three orchestras — including the Junior High String Orchestra, the Junior High Concert Orchestra and the Senior High Full Orchestra — will begin at 4 p.m. Sept. 21 in the Mills Performing Arts Building. Admission is free and open to the public.