Highland Park High School Orchestra Performs at Evergreen Elementary School

High School Orchestra Performs for Evergreen Elementary School

SCOTCH PLAINS, N.J., January 16, 2015 - Nationally-recognized Highland Park High School Orchestra performed a selection of winter music today for students at Evergreen Elementary School. The musicians demonstrated four types of string instruments, fiddling and classical styles, and performed a pop combination with the GoodWorks band of Scotch Plains. The performance culminated in a medley of music from Disney’s Frozen animated movie.

“To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Highland Park Orchestra program, we are giving back by sharing our love of orchestra with the community,” said Hsin-Ting Feng, orchestra conductor and Scotch Plains resident. “I attended Evergreen as a child, so it was extra special for me to bring music back to my childhood school.”

Scotch Plains-based rock and soul band GoodWorks has “adopted” the orchestra and is helping with fundraising so they can compete in national competitions. Two of its members – Paul Lavenhar and Paul Ungar – joined the orchestra for two songs.

Feng said she is starting a Scotch Plains-Fanwood Community Orchestra for children in March through The Royal Stage School of Music, which will do similar events like the one at Evergreen to give back to the Scotch Plains-Fanwood community. Children in third grade and adults can register for the orchestra program through the Fanwood Recreation Department. Some students may qualify for a scholarship to the program.

In 2012, the Highland Park High School Orchestra won Gold at the WorldStrides Heritage competition, which enabled them to participate in the Festival of Gold and perform at Carnegie Hall. The group has also been invited to compete for the Orchestra Cup at the National School Orchestra Championships in March 2015 at Lincoln Center in New York City, where they will perform an original work “Fantasy for Strings” composed by Ben Newhouse. http://204.8.193.135/users/hfeng