Maestro Robert Bernhardt
Students from four local high schools arrived at Lee University Thursday for Honor Orchestra 2015, a three-day clinic designed specifically for high school musicians. This is the second year of the program under the direction of Maestro Robert Bernhardt.
The featured clinician will be Maestro Bernhardt, conductor of the Lee University Symphony Orchestra. Maestro Bernhardt is also the music director emeritus and principal pops conductor of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera and principal pops conductor of the Louisville Orchestra.
Students were selected for the Honor Orchestra based upon information submitted by the students in addition to recommendations from their individual orchestra directors. Students will rehearse Thursday evening through Saturday morning. The weekend will culminate with a concert given by the Honor Orchestra on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Pangle Hall on Church Street.
“It is always a pleasure to have music students on our campus, and being given the opportunity to play under the baton of Maestro Bernhardt is a valuable experience for them,” said Winona Holsinger, director of instrumental projects at Lee. “We are so pleased that we can provide the Honor Orchestra for these gifted students.”
Lee University will host a special concert Friday at 7:30 p.m. by String Theory artists Tara O’Connor, Peter Kolkay, James Austin Smith, and Gloria Chien in The Chapel. Honor Orchestra students will be the guests of Lee University for the String Theory concert.
Admission to the Saturday concert is free, and the public is invited to attend. Tickets for Friday’s performance are $15 for adults and $5 for seniors and children and are available by contacting the Lee University Box Office at 614-8343.
For more information about the Honor Orchestra or Lee’s School of Music, call 614-8263 or email wholsinger@leeuniversity.edu.