Our latest article for @SugarLandMoms is full of tips for attending orchestra concerts with the whole family. Click through to find must-see local performances, too!
Tag: orchestra
LHS Partners with Wu’s Fine Violins for Kids Aren’t Lazy!
Hey Sugar Land Families! We’re excited to partner with Wu’s Fine Violins to make Kids Aren’t Lazy: Developing Motivation & Talent Through Music (PDP, 2018) available at his string shop on Lexington Blvd. Mobile users, click through to your browser to view the details.
You can also pick up a copy of Kids Aren’t Lazy from Amati Violin Shop, Gold Violin Shop, Cardiff Violins, the River Oaks Bookstore, Johnson String Instrument, Carriage House, Barnes & Noble, the Sugar Land Art Center & Gallery, and Amazon.
LHS Studio Spotlight: Molly
This week we’re speaking with Molly H. on what it took for her to make the top HS Region Orchestra (Symphony) just one year (!) after starting viola. Molly began playing the violin at age 6 and often leads The Sugar Strings in their performances around Sugar Land. In addition to playing violin and viola, Molly runs her own piano studio for young musicians.
You study three instruments in addition to your academic subjects! What’s your best piece of advice for other young musicians who want to pursue multiple areas of expertise?
Enjoy it! Don’t let your music just become a grade or a requirement. I feel the most accomplished when I can share my skills and bring joy to others!
How do you balance nerves and confidence in auditions and performances?
Before the region audition, I put positive affirmation statements on notecards, to tell myself I was prepared and would do well! At the audition, tried to block out all the other players and focus on being mentally prepared. At performances, I try to enjoy the music as much as I can and trust my muscle memory and all the hard work I put in!
Leading up to your audition, what was your practice schedule like?
When the music first came out, I made goals to have much of the music memorized fairly quickly. About a month from the audition, I increased my practicing to at least two hours a day. It was definitely challenging, but I found a drive within me. I had worked so hard, I couldn’t just give up! I knew that every minute I worked could be the difference of getting in or not.
Does your viola have a special story behind it? Tell us your favorite things about your instrument and why you chose it.
I really like my viola’s rich tone and, since it is only 14 inches I can switch between violin and viola. It’s an antique made in 1893 and I enjoy thinking of all the people who have heard it played!
What new pieces are you looking forward to adding to your repertoire this year?
I am looking forward to adding both viola and violin peices this year! I am currently preparing Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata on my viola.
LHS Musicians Accepted into Houston Youth Symphony!
We are delighted to share the happy news today that all four LHS musicians who auditioned for the Houston Youth Symphony have been accepted! Congratulations to Christian (viola), Archana (violin), Catherine (violin), and Elizabeth (violin)! The 2018 – 2019 season will be Christian’s first year in HYS, Archana’s second, and Catherine and Elizabeth’s third. We are so proud of their wonderful accomplishments in an especially competitive audition year!
Additionally, Catherine and Elizabeth have been accepted into the top orchestra at Dulles MS, where they will begin 6th grade this fall. Christian and Archana will perform next spring at Carnegie Hall with the Clements HS orchestra. Thrilling news all around!
LHS Musicians Accepted into Top School Orchestras
Hello, everyone!
It’s audition season, and that means we’re starting to find out which orchestras our young musicians have been accepted into for the 2018 – 2019 school year! We’ll update this site with results as they come in, as so far only a few schools have posted their audition results and many more are sure to do so between now and August!
Congratulations to Seline (violin) and Dhruv (viola) for reaching the top orchestra (Camerata) at Austin High School! Both Seline and Dhruv will have the huge honor of performing at the Chicago Midwest Clinic in December 2018.
Congratulations to Jordan (viola) for reaching the top orchestra (Symphony) at Travis High School! Jordan will attend the high school AFA program this summer as well. So exciting!
Jordan joins Esosa (viola) in the top Travis group. On that note, Esosa will be spending one month this summer in Thailand, having successfully applied for a summer abroad scholarship through the Council on International Educational Exchance (CIEE) program. Wow, Esosa!
Congratulations to Zayn (viola) for reaching the top orchestra (Camerata) at Garcia Middle School as a 6th-grader! Zayn will attend the AFA this summer as well.
Congratulations to Aishwarya (violin), who will stay in the top group at Clements HS and to Amanda (viola), who will stay in the top group at Ridgepoint HS.
*EDIT, 5/31* Congratulations also to Ryder (viola), who has reached the top orchestra (Symphony) at Sartartia Middle School!
*Edit, Fall 2018, below*
Congratulations to Hamsini for being the only freshman violinist accepted into the top group at Elkins HS!
Congratulations to Tarunikha for being accepted as a freshman violist at Elkins HS as well!
Congratulations to Catherine and Elizabeth for being accepted into the top group at Dulles MS as incoming 6th-graders!
Congratulations to Olivia for being accepted into the top group at Baines MS on viola!
To everyone who will be auditioning this week and next — good luck, and remember to perform with confidence! We are already so proud of you!
LHS Young Musicians Accepted into AFA Summer Music Festival!
Congratulations to the following young musicians for successfully auditioning for and being accepted into AFA! We are so excited to have young musicians ranging from elementary school to middle and high school participating in both the MS and HS summer music programs. Well done, everyone!
Rohith, violin, 3rd grade
Jordan, viola, 10th grade
Kyle, violin, 6th grade
Morgan, viola, 6th grade
Ryder, viola, 7th grade
Catherine, violin, 5th grade
Elizabeth, violin, 5th grade
Zayn, viola, 6th grade
Congratulations, Paige!
Happy (almost!) summer, everyone!
As this semester draws to a close, I’d like to recognize Paige, who recently received the Outstanding Member Award for the Dulles Middle School Philharmonic.
Paige is concertmaster of her school orchestra, has recently acquired a beautiful new violin, and has successfully auditioned to enter the Dulles High School orchestras in Fall 2015. Congratulations, Paige!
LAUREN HALEY STUDIOS 
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