INVITED BY AUDITION to perform in the

National Band and Orchestra Festival 2007

in New York City's CARNEGIE HALL!!

 

 

INVITED BY AUDITION to perform for the

Virginia Music Educators Association's 2005

In-Service Conference!!

 

These are all outstanding honors bestowed only upon accomplished groups. Ensembles are chosen (blind) by a “selection committee” from tapes submitted by directors from all across the state.

The VMEA Conference is the largest professional conference in the state with over 2000 members.  Each year, both the Norfolk Waterside Sheraton and Marriott hotels are booked with music educators from across the state, as well as spreading over to other hotels in the vicinity.

Each year, only two high school orchestras are selected to perform.  In the 25-year history of the conference, there has only been one other string orchestra chosen to perform from the City of Chesapeake.  The OSHS Chamber Orchestra was recognized before the Chesapeake City School Board for this outstanding accomplishment on the June 12, 2006 televised School Board meeting.

PERFORMANCE REVIEWS from the VMEA Conference:

"God bless you for making those kids play!! It's just amazing and really admirable. I know what I wrote - it was never intended to be played by a school orchestra and definitely not for players without any private schooling...so it is just great what you've done there. Please tell the kids I am incredibly pleased with what they achieved and God bless them all for having time to play classical music. They only will find out later what they've been getting..." -- Peter Breiner, composer/arranger

"I was so impressed and inspired listening!  The program was so interesting and played soooo well!  Let (the students) know that they have achieved the next level and are now operating at the level of Virginia's finest school orchestras!"-WBHS Orchestra Director

"Your students played with such musical expression which gave the performance so much excitement.  You could tell that they had been well trained and prepared for this performance."-DCHS Orchestra Director

"Your orchestra is marvelous! I cannot believe the wonderful sound, the great intonation and balance that the orchestra has.  Please congratulate each of them for me!"-Ron Shomo, guest conductor, retired music educator

"Your kids were GREAT!  I thought it was the best performance of the entire conference.  The programming was just right, and the kids played so well!  Other performances seemed like they lasted FOREVER!  Yours was EXACTLY like it should have been. I'm sure you're very proud, and I hope that you know we are too!!"-HHS Band Director

"The performance far exceeded any performance I heard this year. It was really outstanding.  Congratulations on your hard work."-HMS Band Director

"You guys were AWESOME!!!! I have a new appreciation for string orchestra! I really liked a couple of the contemporary pieces you programmed (the opener and the 7/8 bluesy piece)!"-GBMS Band Director

"What beautiful, melodious sounds that came from your group! I just really want you to know that you did a wonderful job...The whole morning was magical!"-Emmet Forbes, VA Beach orchestra director

"The whole performance was just so musical!  There was no comparison between the high school I heard on Thursday and OSH!  You should be so proud and happy."-OSMS Orchestra Director

" They were great.  It made me proud to see my former students.  Your viola section is fantastic.  I would love to have them any day of the week.  I loved your music selection.  You made Chesapeake proud."-JMS Orchestra Director

"I was sooo proud to be associated with the Oscar Smith High School Music Department last Saturday. You might also want to know that my students are still talking about your performance for us on Wednesday, 3rd Block. They were so inspired by your performance as I was on both performances.  I thank you and your students for your Perseverance."-Oscar Smith High School Choral Director

"I have replayed the CD of your state performance several times. You are awesome! I will keep your music with my other favorites. When I need to be uplifted, your music is what I will choose. I found the music inspiring. Your performance had such good intonation and demonstrated all of the hard work you devoted over the past few months. I am so proud of your accomplishments. Thank you for representing OFS so well."-Dr. Andrejco, principal, Oscar F. Smith High School

“What an exciting concert this morning. All the hours and hours of practice paid off. You played so beautifully and professionally. We were very proud of you and to get a standing ovation from a group of music educators was the best. You should feel great. Admirably, The Strickers, OSHS Orchestra Parents