Laurens District 55 High School Orchestra to Perform at SC School Board Association Annual Convention
November 8, 2023
Laurens County School District 55 (LCSD 55) proudly announces that Laurens District 55 High School (LDHS) Orchestra will be performing at the South Carolina School Boards Association (SCSBA) 2024 Convention. The SCSBA will hold its annual convention on February 15-18, 2024. The LDHS students will perform at the Hilton Head Marriott on Saturday, February 17, 2024, in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
The LDHS Orchestra was informed of the opportunity to audition for a performance at the SCSBA Convention in late August 2023. LDHS Orchestra Director Kristopher “Kris” Briggs worked hard to teach a new piece to his 27 students. The LDHS Orchestra showed commitment, passion, and determination in learning a new piece in one month. The LDHS Orchestra submitted their audition piece in early October 2023.
Mr. Briggs said, “Though we have performed for Concert Performance Assessments, this will be the first time I’ve taken a group to perform for an event like this. I’m extremely excited that my students have the opportunity to showcase their talents.”
The LDHS Orchestra students share the excitement about the upcoming performance. Sam Garrett, a Senior Cellist said, “I feel extremely privileged to be playing at the SCSBA Convention. I feel that this opportunity will bond the orchestra even more, and will give us the opportunity to share our love for music with others.”
“I’m very happy about the opportunity to play at the SCSBA Convention. It will be an amazing experience for our orchestra and a perfect time for bonding through the power of beautiful music,” added Junior Violist Annalysa Aldridge.
LCSD 55 Superintendent Dr. Ameca C. Thomas is giving her full support to the LDHS Orchestra to make this unique opportunity happen. Dr. Thomas also showed support for the LDHS Orchestra during their fall performance (HallowStrings) with the Middle School Orchestra Groups at LDHS on Monday, October 30, 2023.
Dr. Thomas said, “The exceptional talent and dedication showcased by our district orchestra students is truly commendable. We are immensely proud of their achievements and the hard work they have put into perfecting their craft. The fact that the high school orchestra students have been selected to perform at the South Carolina School Boards Association Convention in February is a testament to their incredible abilities and the recognition they have garnered on a larger platform. This achievement not only reflects their musical prowess but also highlights the superior music education provided by our schools. We congratulate our orchestra members on this well-deserved honor and we eagerly anticipate their captivating performance at the convention.”
The LDHS Orchestra will perform to a limited audience at LDHS on November 10, 2023, to celebrate Veterans Day. They will also perform for the elderly at the Quillen Manor on December 15, 2023. The public is invited to their Winter Concert on December 12, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. at LDHS.
LDHS Orchestra will hold a 5th-grade recruitment concert on February 27, 2023. Mr. Briggs hopes to encourage students to participate in the orchestra. Briggs shared Music Pedagosists Shinichi Suzuki’s words, “If children hear fine music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline, and endurance. They get a beautiful heart.”
For more information about orchestra and strings programs in LCSD 55, contact Kristopher Briggs (high school program) at [email protected], Sarah Rinaudo(middle school) at [email protected], and Gabriel Hill (middle school) at [email protected].
