Statesman Journal article about the Boston Trip

West Salem orchestra wins honors

March 25, 2009

West Salem High School orchestra students won honors recently during a trip to Massachusetts.
Students raised $900 each to go on the four-day tour, where they made stops on the Freedom Trail — visiting Paul Revere’s house, the USS Constitution and Harvard University. They also saw a performance of the Boston Symphony and did a clinic with Boston University Symphony conductor David Hoose.

The trip included students from the symphony strings intermediate orchestra and advanced orchestra. In all, 37 students and 12 chaperones went, said Daryl Silberman, orchestra director, in a news release.

At the Heritage Festival, students won gold status (receiving more than 90 points out of 100 from all three adjudicators) and honors, including two adjudicator awards, one sweepstakes award and an outstanding orchestra group award. Concertmaster Gwen Gates, a senior, received a Maestro's award.

“The trip was well organized, flawless in its execution and success, and will hopefully serve as a wonderful motivator for the orchestra program at West,” Silberman said.
For more pictures and details about the trip, check out West’s orchestra blog at www.titanorchestras.blogspot.com.

— Mackenzie Ryan