Southwest High School String Orchestra headed to Chicago

A local orchestra from the Imperial Valley is heading to Chicago tomorrow to perform in the Midwest Clinic which is the biggest music educator’s workshop in the country.

We were at Southwest High School during their last rehearsal before the head out.

This is the first time the orchestra will be performing at the national clinic but it’s not their first time on the big stage.

“Two years ago we were at Carnegie Hall playing on that stage, that was onspiring. It’s a pretty big deal because again this is an international conference and to be recognized as one of the best from the selection process. I don’t think it’s paralleled,” said Matthew Busse, Director of Orchestras.

“I think orchestra is really important, even band I guess, but orchestra is really personal to me because I grew up listening to classical music and so being able to create music that I really love is a really nice opportunity,” explained Karah Radcliff, Violist.

The orchestra won’t play till Saturday but will have plenty to keep them busy leading up to the big performance.

They are just one of the five high school string orchestras from across the country invited to perform.

“The orchestra program is only as strong as the students that we get, so if we don’t have a good feeder system, if we don’t have good support from the community then that will eventually dry up. I don’t think there is any other program in this valley that has had this much success, ” added Busse.