On Thursday, Feb. 10; the University of Wisconsin-Superior hosted the String Concert at the Thorpe Langley Auditorium, 2nd floor of Old Main.

The Superior Middle School’s 8th grade orchestra, the Superior High School Orchestra, and the UW-Superior Chamber Strings played for UWS students and the community.

“It’s really great for our middle school students to see that they can keep playing through high school, college, and beyond.” said the Superior Middle School 8th Grade Orchestra director Jenna Mattson.

The Middle School Orchestra opened the show playing “The Pirates’ Cove” by Deborah Baker Monday.The SHS Orchestra then continued playing “Kingdom Dance” from Disney’s hit “Tangled”. Finally was UW-Superior’s Chamber Strings which played “Molly on the Shore” by Percy Aldridge Grainger.

Viola up-close

Superior High School Orchestra director Amy Eichers commented “It’s just a great thing that we get all three groups from Superior together on the same stage, playing the same music at the same time.”

The second half of the show had the three orchestras combined into one which opened with Brian Balmages’ “Forever Joyful!” that showcased just how well the three groups can really play together.

Up next was the modern classic hit “The Mandalorian Theme” composed by Ludwig Göransson and arranged by Robert Longfield.

The show closed with “Danza” for strings by Vaclav Nelhybel which gave every part a chance to be heard one last time in such an exciting piece.

“This is really fun to get all three orchestras together and watch the progression of the students that grow and continue in college whether it’s their major or not. I have worked with these two other directors, from middle school and high school and they’re spectacular. The three of us sort of triple team all of this. The challenging thing is putting three groups that are playing the same music together after just one rehearsal.” said UWS String director Erin Aldridge.

If you’re interested in joining the UW-Superior String Orchestra, professor Dr. Erin Aldridge is in Holden 1110. She teaches music theory, music history, and even violin lessons.

Aldridge also says that you don’t have to be a music major to play as a lot of her students are non music majors.