YHS Orchestra Rates High in Washington

The Yorktown High School Concert Orchestra earned the rating of 'superior' -- the highest awarded -- at the recent Rhythms International Festival held in April in Washington, DC.

“This group is ‘superior’ in so many ways” and “played absolutely gorgeously,” said

Yorktown Orchestra Director Nancy Torrente who praised math teacher Terry Shaw and school nurse Vicky Sullivan, who participated as two staff chaperones along with several parents.

Torrente says the extensive music program is a credit of support from the district and the Board of Education.

“Many thanks for approving, allowing and supporting these experiences for our students. They learn so much and represent the Yorktown community fantastically,” she said.

The group performed “Serenade for Strings” by Tchaikovsky and “Perseus” by Soon Hee Newbold. The orchestra is open to all string students in grades 10 to 12 who have participated in the Studio Orchestra. This year's group has 56 members.

In addition to the concert festival, the students heard a classical concert at the Kennedy Center, visited the Arlington National Cemetery, the Lincoln Memorial and two museums during their nearly three-day stay in the nation’s capital.

Rhythms is a music festival company founded in 2003 to provide student music groups with the experience of travelling to a major city to perform together and share music with their peers. The goal is to have the students perform, learn and improve, according to the rhythmsfestivals.com

To hear the orchestra live, come to the Spring Concert at 7:30 p.m. May 24, Yorktown High School auditorium, 2727 Crompond Road.