Kirkwood High School Symphonic Orchestra Departs for Lincoln Center Thursday (Feb. 28)

The Kirkwood High School Symphonic Orchestra students will depart this Thursday morning, Feb. 28, for New York City and their concert at Lincoln Center on Saturday.  The orchestra is one of seven orchestras selected nationwide to perform at the renowned Alice Tully Hall.  The concert will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 1.  The group will be competing for the National Orchestra Cup trophy.

    The students successfully concluded their “Live at Lincoln Center” fundraising campaign raising a total of $64,000 for the four-day trip.  Sixty-one students, chaperones and dozens of parents are making the trip to New York.  In 2009, the Kirkwood Symphonic Orchestra was one of three orchestras nationwide invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

    “It’s been an incredible journey these last few years,” said Orchestra Director Patrick Jackson, “and we’re not even in New York yet.   We have been, literally, overwhelmed by the generous and enthusiastic support of this community, our parents, friends, fellow musicians, and KHS alumni.  Playing on the stage at Alice Tully Hall will be such an amazing experience for these young musicians and they will be there because of this support.”

    Money raised from the campaign will be used to cover expenses for the four-day trip, including ground transportation from St. Louis to New York for the cellos and double basses.  The students have been working on the music for the New York performance since September; Jackson has selected a very difficult and yet eclectic program for the performance.  The rigorous months of rehearsals are in addition to the students’ regular full concert and solo and ensemble schedule.

    St. Louis Strings Violin Shop and First String Violin Shop have generously spent the last few months ensuring the readiness of each instrument.  Every violin, viola, cello and double bass has received a new set of strings and been inspected for cracks and necessary bridge adjustments.  All instrument bows have been re-haired.

    Transportation logistics for both the students and the instruments have been ongoing throughout the year. Violins will travel with the students on the plane.  Jackson will pack the double basses and cellos in a van Wednesday morning at Kirkwood High School for the two-day drive to Manhattan. 

    Following are details of the departure logistics: 

Wednesday, Feb. 27       9 a.m.
Kirkwood High School (Essex parking lot)
Double basses and cellos will be packed into a van by Orchestra Director Patrick Jackson for the two-day drive to Manhattan.  The van is being driven by parents of the orchestra students.  The van is expected to depart school around 9:30 a.m. 

Thursday, Feb. 28        5:30 a.m.
Lambert St. Louis International Airport
The 61 orchestra students and chaperones will meet at 5:30 a.m. at the American Airlines desk (upper level) for their 7:45 a.m. flight. 

    For additional information, please visit http://dev.kirkwoodschools.org/faculty/khsorchestra/live_at_lincoln_center/.