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McLean Strings Wow Virginia Music Educators
November 18, 2006
At the invitation of the Virginia Music Educators Association, the
McLean Chamber Soloists traveled to Hot Springs, VA, on November 18 to
perform at the VMEA's annual conference. It was a great opportunity that
Orchestra Director Gretta Sandberg enthusiastically accepted to show off
the talents of the MHS premier orchestra musicians. An unprecedented two
additional McLean-area schools also were invited to perform for the VMEA:
MHS's own Symphonic Band, as well as the talented Longfellow Chamber
Strings. The Chamber Soloists did a terrific job at Hot Springs' Homestead
and left a lasting impression upon the VMEA audience.
They performed a program that included works by Mozart, Antonin Dvorak,
and Aaron Copland. They also performed a wonderful original composition by
former MHS Chamber violinist John Lee (MHS class of 2004), Inspiration
#1, written in his Senior year, and performed at the 2004 District 12
Orchestra Festival.
Since the VMEA extended their invitation to the MHS Chamber Soloists
months previously, Orchestra Director Gretta Sandberg had the Soloists
well-prepared. In fact, during the month of August, they traveled to
Highland County, Virginia, for two-and-a-half days of intensive rehearsal
of the planned program, critique by professional chamber musicians of the
Garth Newel Music Center, capped by an enthusiastically-received public
performance for the citizens of Monterey, VA (read more about this
exciting musical retreat below). They also performed their program at an
MHS concert on November 9. Gretta Sandberg more than fulfilled her goal of
sharing with her statewide colleagues the outstanding talent of Northern
Virginia's McLean musicians. All MHS students, parents, faculty,
administrators, and support staff can be proud of the Chamber Soloists'
and Symphonic Band's outstanding representation of MHS musical
achievement.
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