Student musicians gather for annual All-County Orchestra

Brianna Staley and Jordan Barton, in foreground — 6th-graders at Schofield Middle School and LBC Middle School — rehearse for a concert at the All-County strings festival Monday. Staff photo by Rob Novit.

The All-County Orchestra Festival keeps getting bigger and better.

The festival for Aiken County strings students in sixth through 12th grades was held at USC Aiken on Monday - highlighted by separate concerts for sixth-graders, seventh- and eighth-graders, and high school students.

"It's grown tremendously," said Natalie Fox, the Public Education Partners executive director. "We've got about 150 kids this year who are getting to work with great clinicians."

The participating schools are Aiken High, Schofield Middle School, LBC Middle School, Busbee-Corbett Elementary/Middle School; Paul Knox Middle School and North Augusta Middle School.

Aiken High music programs director Ryan Westberry brought 50 orchestra performers to work with Dr. Les Hicken, a Furman professor and music director who also conducts the Carolina Youth Symphony in Greenville.

"He's one of the best educators I've ever encountered," said Westberry. "It's exciting to have him working with my students."

Joining the school orchestra was Midland Valley High freshman Sarah Harding. She played the violin for LBC Middle's strings program last year. Midland Valley doesn't have strings, so Harding joined the band as a percussionist. She has enjoyed that opportunity and continues to take private violin lessons from Laura Tomlin.

"I did All-County with LBC and wanted to do it again," Harding said. "It's going great, although it's a lot harder at the high school level. I like having all the instruments here instead of just strings."

Corbett teacher Claire Thrower brought 22 of her strings students.

"My sixth-graders are so excited, getting to see other kids playing the same instruments they do and having the same problems as they learn those instruments," she said. "Making music is what this is all about, and they can see that all the hard work is paying off."

Joyce Culp, the LBC instructor, calls the festival her favorite day of the year. She too values the opportunity for the sixth-graders.

"The clinicians are energetic and awesome," said Culp. "It gives the sixth-graders an extra boost to keep going, and they feel as important as the seventh- and eighth-graders."

One of those LBC sixth-graders, violinist Bessie Stephens, found much to appreciate.

"I've met a lot of students from Schofield and other schools that I had no idea about," she said. "They've shown me what they do at their schools, and I can use a lot of it."

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.