McLean High School Orchestra

BEAR MOUNTAIN - AUGUST, 2006

The McLean High School Chamber Soloists went on an exciting, challenging, educational and musical retreat in the northwestern mountains of Highland County, Virginia, in mid-August (click on the image for more pictures). Under the leadership of Orchestra Director Gretta Sandberg and with the help of six intrepid parent chaperone/chauffeurs, the musicians traveled to Bear Mountain Farm and Wilderness Retreat. Bunking in cabins perched on the mountainside, Bear Mountain was a welcoming 'home base' for rehearsal in preparation for their concert for the townsfolk of Monterey on the last day of the trip.

Prior to their public performance, they had the opportunity to work with the resident chamber musicians of the renowned Garth Newel Music Center in Warm Springs, receiving valuable critique in the two hours spent there. They took to heart and applied what they learned, performing a terrific and enthusiastically received program at Monterey's Highland Center on August 20. Additional highlights of the four-day retreat were a thrilling nighttime star-gazing experience with a local part-time astronomer, including a glimpse of the space station passing overhead; a generous welcome by the Putnam family at their Hot Springs home for a delicious barbecue; an evening chamber music concert at Garth Newell; and a warm reception at the Monterey vacation home of Ms. Sandberg and her husband, complete with lavish brunch to stoke the kids for their afternoon concert at the Highland Center. The entire experience was a great beginning for what promises to be a great 2006/2007 musical year for the MHS Orchestras!