In Saturday’s (10/13) Naples News (Florida), Lance Shearer writes, “It’s been a long time since the sound of music, or at least orchestral music, has been heard at Manatee Middle School. But now, a group of students are working with their teacher, Angel Colón, to bring the stringed instruments back to the East Naples school. ‘We haven’t had an orchestra program here for over 10 years,’ said Manatee Middle Principal Peggy Aune, ‘so it is like starting from scratch.’ She is a strong proponent on the benefit of music in the curriculum. … Altogether, 24 MMS students took the plunge, electing to serve as guinea pigs for a new, untried musical format, instead of going with the well-developed Manatee symphonic band. On a recent Tuesday afternoon, the fledgling orchestra sat in their practice room, learning the rudiments of playing a stringed instrument. … The ensemble is made up of a mix of violins, violas, cellos and string basses. Luckily, said Colón, each student was able to have their first choice of instrument, while still maintaining a healthy balance among them.”
Posted October 15, 2012
