McLean High's 2025-2026 school year is finished! For the Orchestra it was a fruitful, busy season. The were Fall, Winter, and Spring school concerts featuring each of the high school orchestras. Additional events involving members of McLean's orchestra included the annual in-school Holiday Showcase concert alongside the jazz and choir programs, a Pyramid concert featuring elementary school students from around the McLean area,, the VBODA District XII & Northern Regional Honors Orchestra concerts, the All-Virginia High School Orchestra even in Richmond, and the VBODA District XII High School Orchestra Assessment. We also warmly hosted the Detmolder Jugendorchester students as part of our long-standing German exchange program, rehearsing daily side-by-side and culminating their trip to the USA with a well attended concert. In addition to all of that, orchestra members took a quick musical trip to Cleveland to see the Cleveland Orchestra, participate in a workshop at Case Western, and more!
As part of out international cultural exchange, the visiting Detbold Jugendorchester ("youth orchestra" of Detmold, Germany) stayed in McLean student's homes, attended some of our classes, visited local sites, toured the nation's capital building and rehearsed 2-4 hours daily side-by-side with the McLean HS Philharmonic Orchestra. The week ended with our annual Exchange concert on McLean's stage. Next year, it will be McLean's turn to travel to Germany!
Another part of our cultural and musical education was our spring trip to Cleveland, witch featured a tour of The Cleveland Orchestra's home Severance Hall followed by an unforgettable concert featuring cellist soloist Sol Gabetta and enjoyed a special post-concert chat with professional musicians from the Cleveland Orchestra. The Cleveland Orchestra is one of the "top five" orchestras in the county, so it was a true blessing to see witness such musicality and professionalism. Students also took part in a workshop at Case Western Reserve University with Dr. Kathleen Horvath, Associate Professor of String Education and Pedagogy, visited the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Cleveland Art Museum, and had many orchestra-bonding experiences along the waterfront.
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