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Photo by Westwood Minute/Darlene Wong Cancell. Director of Orchestras Alicia Winslow addresses the student musicians, their supporters, and community in attendance at the All Town String Orchestra's performance on May 23, 2024.
5-25-2024 9:53pm
Words of Encouragement, and Caution, from Director to Community at All Town String Orchestra's Spring Performance
Darlene Cancell
Editor
Westwood Public Schools student string musicians performed in the All Town String Orchestra's spring performance on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at what many hope will not be the last with Director of Orchestras Alicia Winslow, whose position as a music teacher is slated to be cut for the 2024-25 school year.
"I can't promise you that I will be here with you," said Ms. Winslow, at the evening's end while introducing the night's finale performance by all WPS string student musicians from grades 2 through 12.
"So instead I leave you with a charge," she said. "Programs like this one don't happen by accident, nor do they build themselves. It takes years of work and intentionality to reach the level of what you see before you tonight. But unfortunately, it can take only a short amount of time to lose all the progress that's been made, " she cautioned.
"It's been the honor of a lifetime to make music with the children behind me on the stage for the last nine years," continued Ms. Winslow. "They’re compassionate, caring, insightful, and not afraid to advocate for themselves. So, my ask of you tonight is that you help them to maintain those qualities, encourage them to carry on the tradition of excellence we’ve established here, and extend it to the future generations of string players in years to come.”
Take a listen to the Westwood High School Orchestra at: https://x.com/WestwoodMinute/status/1794554612587880541. The full performances of elementary, middle school, high school, and combined student orchestras are available on Westwood Media Center's YouTube channel.
