WICOMICO CO., Md- Many middle and high school students from all over the Eastern Shore, including Wicomico County students, were nominated to the All Shore Orchestra this year and will move on to audition for chair placement in April.
Wicomico County students are under the direction of teachers Sarah Burton, Ashley Palmer, Courtney Bennett and Mark Pages.
Courtney Bennett, orchestra director for Mardela Middle, Mardela High and Salisbury Middle says enrollment in the orchestra program has grown significantly in the last ten years.
“In the strings programs of Wicomico County Public Schools, our students get to be part of a musical family that encourages growth both musically and personally,” said Bennett. “In every single rehearsal we push our students to achieve excellence and teach them to consistently work hard to achieve high quality results. It is our goal that students carry these habits with them into other classrooms, other areas of their lives, and on into the 'real world’ after graduation.”
Three students, Bennett Middle’s Ellie Long, Briana Truitt and Mary Hsia, will be part of both All Shore Orchestra and All Shore Band in 2019.
Other students nominated for the 2019 All Shore Orchestra are:
Violin 1:
- James M. Bennett High: Cristina Avanessian, Simon Jeong, Eduardo Minchala
- Mardela Middle and High: Sokyra Ward, Jermirah Quinton
- Parkside High: Gracie Elswick, Leyna Paul
- Wicomico High: Aaliyah Lofland, Kirsten Parsons
- Bennett Middle: Ellie Long. Ellie was also selected for All Shore Band, for alto sax (1st chair).
Violin 2:
- James M. Bennett High: Sarah Augustin, Riley Bozman, Roxanne Chow
- Mardela Middle and High: Kelsey Flores, Xander Hall
- Wicomico High: Jasmine Love, Jamie Saintphard
- Bennett Middle: Emma Nyland, Briana Truitt
- Salisbury Middle: Inaka Hudgins, Annie Libertin, Michelle Rao, Kah-Miya Simpson
Violin 3:
- Parkside High: Ellen Wittmyer
- Bennett Middle: Sammy Kreutner, Megan Nguyen
- Pittsville Middle: Laynie Lopez, Mikayla Strobel
- Salisbury Middle: Chloe Casper, Lauren Collins, Larry Henneghen, Jy’Kerria Maddox, Marleigh Curran, Lydia Murphy
Cello:
- Mardela Middle and High: Alexzander Baer, Makayla Bounds
- Parkside High: Ben Rodman
- Wicomico High: Olivia Haines
- Bennett Middle: Mary Hsia
- Salisbury Middle: Chris Howard, Chris Jung
Bass:
- James M. Bennett High: Adan Thomas-Mason
- Bennett Middle: Allie Jimmerson
- Wicomico Middle: Joshua Dartilus
