“The orchestra program at the Tyson School of Innovation is serving as a model” for the Springdale public school district in northwest Arkansas, writes Mary Jordan in Monday’s (3/8) Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock). “Orchestra programs have been established in the Bentonville, Fayetteville and Rogers school districts, administrators said…. The four large school districts in Northwest Arkansas all have long-established band programs…. The program is offering a beginner orchestra class for sixth-graders. More advanced classes will be added annually as students progress…. The school … serves students from sixth through 12th grade…. Ella Swanson, 11, of Fort Smith said she started playing the violin … this year [and is] excited to be one of the first participants in the program…. The students had a performance recorded on video in the gym in December…. The performance was shared on the school YouTube page, but Justin Hazard, orchestra director and assistant band director, said he’s hoping to have an orchestra performance in the school’s Performing Arts Center in May…. The center is anticipated to be complete in April, he said…. ‘It’s the first orchestra in Springdale, and it would be really nice if people could share that with us,’ she said.”
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