🎻🎼🌟 Dynamic tones reverberated across the Bob Johnson Performing Arts Center at Clyde A. Erwin High School on Wednesday as Buncombe County Schools’ (BCS) most talented middle and high school string musicians took the stage.
Families, educators, and community members gathered to celebrate rising musical stars at the annual All-County Orchestra Performance. Students from across the district earned their place after September auditions and spent two days rehearsing under the direction of guest clinicians Jennie Quinn and Sabrina Howard before taking the stage. The middle and high school orchestras enthralled concert-goers with a range of classical and contemporary musical pieces- from Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 5” finale to Kirt Mosier’s “Blue Rhythmico.”
BCS Arts Education Specialist Jaime Graeber welcomed the audience and praised the students’ dedication:
“Tonight’s performance is the culmination of their dedication, countless hours of practice, and a shared passion for music,” she said. “When we invest in the arts, we invest in our students’ ability to innovate, lead, and contribute meaningfully to their communities and future professions.”
Graeber also recognized the teamwork that made the event possible- BCS strings teachers, administrators, families, and the young performers themselves.
“Arts education is essential to developing the whole child,” Graeber said. “Through participation in music, visual art, theatre, and dance, students in Buncombe County Schools build creativity, discipline, teamwork, and problem-solving skills that prepare them to thrive in today’s complex world. Research shows that engagement in the arts strengthens academic performance, supports social and emotional growth, and fosters empathy and resilience. In ensemble settings like orchestra, band and chorus, students learn to listen, collaborate, and persevere toward shared goals- skills that extend far beyond the stage or classroom.”