FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ANOTHER SWEEPSTAKES FOR MAC FINE ARTS ACADEMY ORCHESTRAS
Varsity and Non Varsity Orchestras Win UIL Sweepstakes
AUSTIN, Texas - (April 16, 2009) - Austin I.S.D.'s McCallum Fine Arts Academy (MFAA) Varsity and Non-Varsity String Orchestras earned sweepstakes honors once again yesterday-- the highest ranking possible -- during the University Interscholastic League's (UIL) 2009 String Orchestra Concert and Sight Reading regional competition at Anderson High School.
 "We have been working very hard this year with three special concerts added to our season to raise funds for our Carnegie Hall performance, we've had less time to prepare for contest. I am very proud of our students and their dedication, they have rehearsed long, hard hours this year, and it paid off with both orchestras earning perfect "Ones" across the board," said Ricky Pringle, Director of Orchestras at McCallum. "We have incredibly talented students this year who work hard and always rise to the performance," he added.
PHOTO:STUDIO STENCE
An orchestra must receive first-division ratings (ones) in both concert and sight-reading competitions to earn sweepstakes honors. Orchestras compete against a standard rather than each other in the UIL format, with a three-judge panel scoring performances in each competition.
The Non-Varsity Orchestra earned their sweepstakes with their concert program of: Quinteria by Issac, Country Wedding by Smetana and Clark's Quintas.
 The Varsity Orchestra earned its second sweepstakes this year performing Vivaldi's First Movement from Spring, Armenian Rhapsody No.3 by Hovhaness and Overture to the Wind by Mosier. "We played extremely well today," sighed sophomore and concert maser, Phillip Finkle who played the Vivaldi solo, "Mr. Pringle is a great teacher who inspires us to play our best, and we did today."
"Mr. Pringle and his orchestra students have had a full and exciting season this year with two performances at the long Center and a Paramount Theater concert with the Eggmen," explained Lanier Bayliss, Director of the McCallum Fine Arts Academy. "The breadth of their reportory has been an amazing musical journey from Neapolitan Masters to the Beatles and everything in between, and they still have Carnegie Hall to perform in June."
Mr. Pringle, McCallum's Varsity Orchestra also received sweepstakes honors last month at the UIL Full Orchestra Contest in Hayes. "This has been a year of honors for our orchestra," according to Carla Somers, president of the orchestra booster club. Mr. Pringle was named McCallum's Teacher of the Year, we had three students reach State Orchestra, and lots of students in region and solo and ensemble contests, not to mention the Neapolitan Master Class performance at the Long Center, the Beatles concert at the Paramount and the Schubert Mass at the Long Center last week."
The McCallum Fine Arts Academy Orchestra is currently fundraising to participate in the Carnegie Hall MasterWorks Series in June. For additional information and how to donate, go to the McCallum Orchestra Performance Fund web site, www.macorchestrafund.org.
###
McCallum Orchestra and Choir perform Schubert's Mass in G PHOTO:STUDIO STENCE
at the Long Center's Dell Hall, April 3, 2009.
Photos available on request.
More Information:
Young Violinist Competition and Award
McCallum Orchestra
Carnegie Hall Concert
McCallum Orchestra 2008-09 Season
Contact: Michael Coughlan
Hendrix Coughlan Media, Inc.
michael@hendrixcoughlan.com
512.413.1601
512.420.0968
|
