Patch Whiz Kids: Curtis Junior High Full Orchestra Strings Together Another Win

Whiz Kid(s): Curtis Junior High Full Orchestra

School/Director: Mr. Joel Westguaard, Conductor

Accomplishment: Each spring the Advanced Curtis Orchestra — 90-plus students and 30-plus band students, join together to become a full orchestra.

They prepare diligently for the Northwest Orchestra Festival competition held at Mt. Hood Community College. Under the guidance of Mr. Westgaard  and with support from Mr. Rine, the band director, these students meet together five to six times during the month. They commit to missing classes to practice with the group during the day.

Near the end of the month, they meet several evenings to sharpen and polish their program.  After a long month of preparations for the Northwest Orchestra Festival, they leave for Oregon.  This competition is a long standing tradition for Curtis Junior High, giving students the opportunity to foster greater interest in orchestras, string programs as well as an adjudication and clinic which further their skills. The school has participated in the event for more than 25 years.

The students rise to the occasion of the competition. They perform an evening program the week before the competition for family, friends and students to show off all their hardwork and accomplishment.  This year's program included three mucial selections: Slavonic Dance No.8 by Dvorak/Issac, Farandole  by Bizet/Issac and finishing with Marche Slave by Tschaikovsky/Herfurth. 

The evening performace was outstanding and led to much excitement as they prepared to leave for Oregon on Saturday morning.  That night the students honored  Westgaard with a new tie with prints of "frogs" all down the front.  The significance of the frog tie is during a portion of the music  in Farandole the students are asked to play on their "frog" part of the bow. It is a difficult to remember to do this and the studenst were often reminded by the conductor. The students showed their appreciation for the reminders with the "frog tie". Westgaard enjoyed the tie as did the audience. 

Key to Awesomeness: The Curtis Junior High Full Orchestra is a rare group. Not many junior high schools have an orchestra, let alone a full orchestra, with brass, drums, and woodwinds.  It is such a rich sound and a great accomplishment for our local school district to offer this in the arts departement for our students.

The NorthWest Orchestra Festival celebrating its 38th year of supporting local orchestra groups from high school, junior high, and middle school divisions.   Curtis Junior High and High School have participated in this competition for over 25 years.  Many years being awarded the top honors.  Check out the trophy cases in both schools you will see the proof. 

This March 5, the Curtis Junior High Full Orchestra traveled to Gresham and preformed their program to perfection in the Mt. Hood Community College Theater.  They announced the group from University Place was in the finals.  This means they gather their instruments and give another performance, mostly a shorter version of the first program.  This year the group did as in years past, being awarded the top honor 1st place in Dvision II. 

Way to go Curtis Junior High's full orchestra students for giving your all in practice, preparations, performace, and desire to grow and learn as an orchestra group. You represented your community and school  well and are deserving of the award given highest honors in performance and showmanship. 

Know any individual, team, group that is doing noteworthy things?   Nominate them as a Whiz Kid of the week.  Please contact Marion Lybbert at mmlybbert@aol.com.