Lauren Hagstrom, 9th grade, and Eric Branch, 8th grade, both students at Discovery Middle School in Alexandria, were selected to take part in the Minnesota Mid-Level Honors Orchestra. The event took place February 19 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Students who audition record two solos, two scales and a required etude. More than 800 middle school students auditioned this year. Hagstrom and Branch were among the top 32 violinists in the state to be accepted into the honors orchestra.
Students spent a day rehearsing with their conductor, Steven Amundson of St. Olaf College, at Northwestern College in St. Paul and performed a concert as part of the Minnesota Music Educator's Convention.
Both Hagstrom and Branch study privately with Dean Dainsberg of Alexandria, and participate in District 206's orchestra program.
