Bardstown City Schools strings teacher and orchestra leader Paola Land worked with the orchestra directors from Eastern High School and Frederick Douglass High School to create the Kentucky String Orchestra Alliance—a new partnership designed to connect student musicians from across the state through collaboration and performance.
On Tuesday, October 21, 32 Bardstown High School orchestra students traveled to the University of Louisville School of Music for the alliance’s first-ever collaborative orchestra experience. All three orchestras — more than 90 students in total — spent the day in sectionals and full rehearsals led by UofL faculty and the high school orchestra directors before performing that evening at Comstock Concert Hall.
To prepare for the experience, Bardstown students even spent part of their fall break practicing together on campus with Mrs. Land to ensure they were performance-ready.
During the concert, the Bardstown High School Orchestra performed “The Evil Eye and the Hideous Heart” as their solo piece, then joined the combined orchestra to perform “Waltz No. 2,” “30,000 and Forever,” and “Capriccio Espagnol.”
Bardstown senior violinist Sharon Wada shared a solo in Capriccio Espagnol with a violinist from Frederick Douglass High School — a memorable moment that brought the collaboration full circle.
Sharon, who began playing violin at age three and comes from a family of musicians, said the experience was both challenging and rewarding.
Senior violinists Adella Kreso and Sharon Wada both attended a sectional led by a UofL violin professor. “He helped us with our bow techniques and showed us how to make the song come alive,” Adella said. “It was good to have something in common with everyone there. Not everyone understands how much work goes into playing an instrument — especially in an orchestra of 90 students — so being with others who do was really meaningful.”
Senior cellist Sadie Blincoe said her favorite part of the day was working one-on-one with a UofL cello professor. “He focused solely on technique, which was really cool because he taught us things I’d never even thought of before,” she said. “We also had to quickly learn how to adapt to different conductors from each school, and that was challenging but exciting. They were all so supportive and willing to help us.”
Mrs. Land said the idea for the Kentucky String Orchestra Alliance grew from her desire to expand learning opportunities for Kentucky’s young string musicians.
“This collaboration gave our students a chance to experience what it’s like to play in a large symphonic ensemble while connecting with other talented student musicians,” Land said. “We’re proud to be part of something that will continue to grow and inspire the next generation of string players across the state.”
Adella, Sadie, and Sharon all said they hope this isn’t the last time Bardstown students get to experience a collaboration like this before their graduation this spring.
Enjoy these photos from Mrs. Land and Sakan Som, BHS senior and orchestra member.
