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McCallum Fine Arts Academy Orchestras Earn Top Scores in UIL Competition
Varsity Orchestra Wins Sweepstakes Austin, Texas - (February 27, 2008) - The McCallum Fine Arts Academy (MFAA) Varsity, Full Orchestra earned sweepstakes honors today during the University Interscholastic League's (UIL) Full Orchestra Concert and Sight Reading regional competition at the Round Rock Performing Arts Center. To earn sweepstakes honors, an orchestra has to receive first-division ratings in both the concert and sight-reading competition. Orchestras compete against a standard and not each other in the UIL format, with a three-judge panel in each competition scoring performances. McCallum was one of two 4-A orchestras to compete and the only 4-A orchestra to earn sweepstakes in a UIL Region dominated by 5-A schools.
Ricky Pringle, Director of Orchestras at McCallum, exclaimed: "I am extremely proud of our orchestras and the wonderful band and string players we have in both orchestras. This group of young musicians shows that when you have teamwork, a common goal and work hard, top performances will result! Our dedicated band directors Ms. Nelson and Mr. Ehlers, were extremely supportive and contributed greatly to today's success. We are fortunate to have some of the finest teachers and musicians in the district."
The MFAA Varsity, Full Orchestra is a combined group of strings, winds and percussion and is under the direction of Mr. Ricky Pringle and Ms. Carol Nelson. The advanced concert program consisted of Kodály's Háry János Suite, Vivaldi's Concerto in d minor for 2 Violins and Cello, Movement 3, Allegro featuring seniors Gonzalo Hernando and Caris Longoria on violin and Catherine Cotham on cello, and Brahms' Hungarian Dance No. 6.
Carol Nelson, Director of bands at MFAA and conductor of the Brahms piece expressed "I am extremely pleased with the musical performances of both the McCallum Non-Varsity and Varsity Full Orchestras. It is an honor and privilege to be part of this special McCallum musical experience."
The Non-Varsity Full Orchestra also competed under the direction of Matt Ehlers and Ricky Pringle earned a perfect score in concert competition with a program of Rimsky-Korsakov's Dance of the Tumblers, Orpheus in the Underworld by Offenbach and Finlandia by Sibelius. The Non-Varsity Full Orchestra received a second division rating in sight-reading.
"The McCallum orchestras' performances on stage at UIL exhibited the collective expressive musicianship and skill of both students and conductors. The repertoire was challenging and artistically programmed, and performed with commitment and exuberance well beyond what would be expected of 4A orchestras," comments Lanier Bayliss, Director of MFAA. She added, "how do you get to ALL ones on Stage at UIL (or Carnegie Hall in '08 or '09)? Practice, practice, practice! Our Mac musicians have worked individually and collectively to make our full orchestras radiate with such success. Every participant can share in this accomplishment. And what a thrill to hear our students play in an acoustical environment that allows musical nuance from soloists and ensemble alike to be articulated so clearly."
Since its beginning in 1994, the MFAA Orchestra and its program has been a strong, growing organization in AISD. Today's honors add to the outstanding list of accomplishments already earned this year including 35 gold medals at solo/ensemble contest, 13 qualifying for state solo and ensemble contest, placing the highest number of AISD students in Region Orchestra and having two bass players reaching state orchestra.
The varsity and non-varsity orchestras will compete in the UIL String Orchestra Concert and Sight Reading competition mid-April at Anderson High School. Both orchestras will perform a pre-competition concert at 7:00 P.M. on March 31, 2008 at the McCallum Fine Arts Academy Theater, 5600 Sunshine Drive, Austin, Texas 78756.
For Region 18 Full Orchestra Contest results go to: UIL Results
Choose:
Year: 2008
Region: 26 (not 18)
Select Event: orchestra
Select Contest: HS Full Orchestra Joint C/SR 2/27/2008
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