This past weekend, two orchestras represented Langley High School at the District XII Orchestra Assessment at Kenmore MS.  They were evaluated by a panel of professional adjudicators according to state standards of musical achievement.

Langley’s Symphonic orchestra received unanimous Superior rankings at Grade V, an unusual achievement at this level especially for a group of their size (76).

The Philharmonic Orchestra also received unanimous Superior results at the Grade VI level and rave reviews for presenting one of the most difficult pieces in the string literature in competition (Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis).

The Superior rankings in performance and sight reading at the highest level of competition in orchestra, chorus, and band qualifies Langley’s Music Department  for another Blue Ribbon For Musical Excellence.  This is the 7th straight year our students have qualified, an accomplishment that has only been reached by a handful of schools in the state of Virginia.

Also in breaking orchestra news, junior Shannon Chu won the Concertmaster spot in the All-VA Orchestra, which is the highest honor for string players in Virginia.  (We have only held this one other time in our school’s history – Jennifer Kim, now on faculty at GMU and playing with the NSO.)  Senior Bassist Jonathan Grow also made the cut for this prestigious orchestra for a second time.

Congratulations to all our Musical Saxons!