OL Chamber Orchestra performed in front of the Virginia Music Education Association on November 20. The Orchestra was noticed by Professor Foster Beyers, Director of Orchestral Studies at James Madison University, and invited to come practice with college conductors. He was doing a lecture on effective conducting skills and needed a high school group for his student conductors to work with and be able to see firsthand if their gestures were clear to players.
According to the Ocean Lakes orchestra teacher, Karey Sitzler, “Congratulations to the OL Chamber Orchestra for their outstanding performance at the Virginia Music Education Association State Conference this past Saturday.”
The orchestra students were complimented for being flexible and open to helping the college students. They were also commended on their mature tone quality and overall talent throughout the experience.
“The Conference was a very new and different experience as it put the spotlight on the conductors rather than the players. I enjoyed working with the conductors and wish them luck on their way forward as professional conductors,” said junior Robert Wetherholt.