The Highland Park High School Orchestra will be well represented at the annual Region 20 Concert this year,with 25 students selected to perform and two achieving first-alternate status.

“We have an amazing number ofstudents who made it – one-third of our entire orchestra,” said director Peggy Tucker, now in her third year with HPHS. “I’m proud of all the students who tried out, because everyone who goes through these tough auditions is a winner. 

Those selected will have had weeks of intense preparation for the regional symphonic and honors orchestra concerts, to be held at Nimitz High School in Irving on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 4pm.  The performance is free and open to the public.

In addition, six students have submitted taped auditions for All-State honors, and if selected will perform in a statewide concert in San Antonio in February.

Tucker says that student preparation for auditions is an accomplishment in itself.  “It’s for the students who want more enrichment, and those who want to learn different and challenging music outside of class,” she said.  “The act of learning the music and auditioning is a great accomplishment and is above and beyond what is expected of our musicians in their curriculum.

Qualifying for Honors All-Region were: Violin I -- Flora Hollifield, Paul Wei, Kelly Weckman; Violin II --Karson Elmgren, Benjamin Habito, Da Huang, Elizabeth Keckeisen, Sara Kendrick, Preston Luthy; Viola -- Shannon Guthrie, Geoffrey Morris, Luna Vorster, Lindsey Wilhelm; Cello -- Celeste Fleming; Bass -- Courtney Collins, Trevor Drew, Ian Simpkins, Pete Walsh; Harp -- Mary Balough.  Honors All-Region first alternates are:  Violin -- Emily Orr; Bass -- Bill Smylie. 

Symphonic All-Region qualifiers were: Violin I -- Sam Crofford, Diana Wigginton; Violin II -- Blake Burns, Taylor Horn, Ji Won Kim; Cello -- Anthony Vallera.   

The six students who have taped auditions for All-State are: Harp – Mary Balough; Violin – Flora Hollifield, DaHuang, Paul Wei; Bass – Ian Simpkins, Peter Walsh. 

The HPHS Highlander Strings received the UIL Sweepstakes prize in both 2008 and 2009, the highest award given in the Concert and Sight Reading Competition.  At the 2009 Directors Choice Festival, the group received first division ratings and was chosen Outstanding Orchestra in its classification.  Several individual students also were awarded first division ratings on their regional performances in the UIL solo and ensemble contests.

Alice Kendrick is a contributor to Park Cities Neighborsgo and a member of the Highlander Strings Booster Club.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

Photo 1:  Honors Orchestra - 1st Row:  Courtney Collins, Celeste Fleming, Flora Hollifield, Emily Orr, Lindsey Wilhelm; 2nd Row: Sara Kendrick, Kelly Weckman, Mary Balough, Elizabeth Keckheisen, Shannon Guthrie; 3rd Row: Trevor Drew, Karson Elmgren, Geoffrey Morris, Paul Wei; 4th Row: Preston Luthy, Da Huang, Ian Simpkins, Pete Walsh, Benjamin Habito; (not present: Luna Vorster, Bill Smylie)

Photo 2:  Symphonic Orchestra - Diana Wigginton, Taylor Horn, Ji Won Kim, Blake Burns, Anthony Vallera, Sam Crofford