Welcome to the Southwest Middle School Orchestra page!  The Southwest MS Orchestra program provides opportunity for students to study orchestral string instruments (violin, viola, cello, and bass) in 6th through 8th grades. 

 

6th graders are given opportunity to choose their instrument, and supported in all aspects of music learning; 6th graders learn how to read and perform music, how to hold, take care of, and play instruments, as well as important lessons on how to work together as a team.  The focus of 6th grade is learning strong fundamental playing technique.

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7th and 8th graders continue to learn more advanced musical technique and have more performance opportunities in the community and local/state competitions.  7th/8th graders regularly attend state Music Performance Adjudication and travel to national competitions (Smoky Mountain Music Festival in Gatlinburg, Carowinds Music Festival, Music in the Parks in Atlanta, and Festival Disney at Walt Disney World) as a group.  There are also opportunities for 7th/8th grade students to audition for select performance groups, such as CMS All-County Honors Orchestra and North Carolina Junior Western Region Orchestra.

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The Southwest MS Orchestra program is highly successful, earning sixteen Superior ratings and one Excellent rating at state and national competition performances from 2011-2022, and we have consistently increased the number of students in CMS All-County Honors Orchestra and Junior Western Region Orchestra. Our students receive regular requests to perform in the community; some exciting performances include the Fred Ingold Festival (collaborating with Union County Schools), regularly performing at Belk Pineville, performing for the National PTA convention in 2015, and performing annually at the Southern Christmas Show.  We were bestowed the great honor of being invited to perform at the 2017 North Carolina Music Educators Association Annual In-Service Conference in November.  Our program continues to grow in recruitment and we currently have one of the largest orchestra programs in our county.

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We are proud of our accomplishments and we are always working to improve our craft and performance.  We will continue to aim high, providing students an excellent educational opportunity to learn music in a supportive environment that challenges students to be at their best.

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Please follow the links for more specific information relating to your child's orchestra experience.  Thanks for stopping by!

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