LOCAL ORCHESTRAS RECOGNIZED

from 92128 Magazine - March/April 2020

IN OUR OWN BACKYARD

PUSD MUSICIANS NAMED SEMIFINALISTS FOR NATIONAL AWARD Local Orchestras Recognized

by LIZ ONUFER

Under orchestra director Ulli Reiner, three local orchestras have been selected as national finalists in the American Prize Competition, a national nonprofit competition in the performing arts. The Poway Symphonette was announced as a semifinalist in the orchestra performance for the community orchestra division, while the combined performance by the Twin Peaks Middle School and Bernardo Heights Middle School orchestras have been chosen as a semifinalist for the conductor award in the high school division.

The selections were made by American Prize judges from video submitted from the Spring 2019 Concert at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts. The sixth grade orchestra performed the works of Hopak by Modest Mussorgsky and classical favorites by Beethoven and Haydn. The seventh and eighth grade orchestras showcased movie favorites from Little Mermaid,

Mission Impossible, and Pirates of the Caribbean, in addition to the classics.

PUSD Orchestra Director Ulli Reiner recognized the continued growth in the middle school orchestras in both numbers and maturity. “Students realize that musical development and musical discipline requires such a high level of commitment and that this discipline is the foundation to all that they do in their lives,” she said. In conjunction with this commitment, Ulli also shared her goal for students to develop a lifelong love for music. The support and encouragement from the community are instrumental in the orchestras’ success, Ulli acknowledged. Concerts are free and open to the public. Donations are accepted year-round to support the school programs and concerts. To learn more contact Ulli at ureiner@powayusd.com. ¢