Bronxville News

Members of the Bronxville High School Orchestra participated in the prestigious 2020 National Orchestra Festival in Orlando, Florida, from March 5-7. Held annually in conjunction with the American String Teachers Association conference, the festival brought together 26 high school orchestras from 12 states following a highly competitive audition process. 

During the festival, the students received feedback from university professors, participated in a clinic with a professional musician, attended workshops on musical techniques and listened to performances by other high school orchestras. 

Bronxville’s performance included Sinfonia, Op. 110a, by Dmitri Shostakovich, “Air” from Suite No. 3 by J. S. Bach and arranged by Leopold Stokowski, and Concerto Grosso No. 2 by Ernest Bloch. In addition to the orchestra’s performance, senior cellist Theo Liao performed a portion of the Dvorak Cello Concerto in a master class given by Susan Moses Bloom, a professional cellist and Indiana University music professor. As a result, Bronxville’s orchestra earned an “excellent” rating in the midst of a talented field of high school students. The judges commended the students for their musical interpretation and challenged them to continue to develop strong technical skills. 

“Interacting with high school musicians who play with phenomenal skill and musicality inspired our students to strive for an exceptionally high standard of musicianship,” orchestra director Denise Lutter said. “I was thrilled with the students’ responses to the challenges that were presented during the festival, and I know that the experience will have a lasting impact on their musical understanding and development.” 

Lutter said she was grateful to the Bronxville School Foundation, the students’ parents and the school administration for making it possible for them to participate in the festival.