Seven middle school orchestra students at Natchitoches Magnet recently auditioned and were accepted to participate in the first ever middle school string orchestra ensemble at the Louisiana Music Educators Association All-State Conference.

Each student had to practice the audition material and do a blind audition in order to be selected. They were chosen out of the many that auditioned all across the state.

At the conference, they were conducted by Dr. Robert Gillespie of The Ohio State University. Dr. Gillespie co-authored the method books that the students all start on as beginners in orchestra.

To even be accepted is a great achievement and deserving of recognition.

Congratulations to the students for their hard work; to the parents who support the arts; to their orchestra director, Mr. Evan Korn; and to their Talent teacher Mrs. Syll Young Olson.

The Magnet orchestra students are (in no particular order):

Peyton Helaire – 8th Grade violin
Chase Snow – 8th Grade cello
Zoe Ukpai – 8th Grade cello
Robert Williams – 7th Grade violin
Nicholas Washington – 7th Grade violin
Everett Watson – 7th Grade violin
Boss LaCaze – 7th Grade bass