APS Fine Arts Celebrates Music This Weekend

Middle schools’ beginning orchestras, Elementary Honor Choir perform Saturday

March 1, 2013

Two musical performances by students are scheduled for Saturday, March 2, as the Albuquerque Public Schools Fine Arts program hosts the Middle School Beginning Orchestra Concert and the 5th Annual Elementary Honor Choir Festival.

The orchestra concert, featuring about 600 beginning strings musicians from 27 APS middle schools, begins at 2:30 p.m. in the gym at Highland High School, 4700 Coal Ave. SE.

The 250 fourth- and fifth-graders selected from 47 schools will participate in two concerts at 3 and 4:15 p.m., at the Valley High School performing arts center, 1505 Candelaria Rd. NW. Fourth-graders perform at the first show, with the fifth-graders in the second.

“Fine arts classes are essential to the educational experience of our students because of the appeal to their creative side,” APS Superintendent Winston Brooks said. “This is an excellent opportunity for our students to showcase their talents.”

Various middle school directors will take turns conducting the orchestra through the six pieces on their program.

Fourth-graders in the Honor Choir will perform under the direction of Paul Hallsted, choir director at Mayfield High School. Carla Erickson, choir director at Manzano High School, will conduct the fifth-graders.

David and Martha Peercy are sponsoring the fourth-grade concert. The fifth-grade show is sponsored by the William H. and Lillian Dolde Charitable Trust.

Peercy, a member of the APS Board of Education, also will perform on the clarinet during the concerts.