And now, it is my distinct privilege to introduce to you the 2019 WSMA High School State Honors Orchestra, conducted by Gary Lewis, a Yamaha Master Educator.
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"Jupiter," from The Planets by Gustav Holst
"Jupiter," from The Planets by Gustav Holst
cheers and applause
Pines of Rome by Ottorino Respighi
Pines of Rome by Ottorino Respighi
Pines of Rome by Ottorino Respighi
Pines of Rome by Ottorino Respighi
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If you'll allow me just to say a few words of thanks and appreciation. It's been such a pleasure for me to be part of this incredible project, beginning back in June in Green Bay, and culminating with this last few hours together in this performance today. Thank you so much for being here, for sharing this special moment with us. There are so many people to thank, I'm sure I'll miss some, but I want to sincerely thank Victoria Donahue and all of the WSMA staff for the fabulous job they do in producing and organizing this event. It's just a real amazing feat that they accomplish, getting all of us in this room, just like clockwork for us, so thank you so much for all your work in making this happen. I sincerely want to thank the section mentors, such incredible colleagues. It's been a pleasure to get to know them and watch them work and be the beneficiary of their work. They've really done all the hard work, and I've had the pleasure of standing in front of this group and enjoy the fruits of their labor. So students, will you please help me thank our section coaches and mentors for their work.
applause and foot rumbling
I'd like to thank all the music educators of this state for the incredible work that you do and sharing your students with me for the last for the last few months, I guess, with a little break in between. It's just been a real honor, and I'm so in appreciation, in awe of what you do here. And lastly, and not-- and most importantly, I'd like to thank these wonderful musicians on stage. It's just been a real honor for me to get to know them. And I was explaining to them, there's only one other all state that I've been a part of where I get to see them again. Although this is, it will be a bit bittersweet. But when we come, when we finished our performance in Green Bay back in June, it was, I was so already looking forward to spending more time with them. They're just such wonderful musicians and such a wonderful, wonderful human beings. And I hope you agree at a time when the arts are sometimes under fire and on the chopping block, they're such an important part of our development. You know, sometimes we, I think, defend the arts in education with how it affects our brains and how it helps us to achieve academically, and the fact that the young men and women on stage are among the most highly achieving academically. But I'd like to think about music and the way that it affects our soul, and the way that creates better human beings. And the collaboration that it teaches, and the discipline that it teaches, and the empathy that it teaches. And I think you'll agree with me that as our society today, especially empathy, is something that is in short supply. And these young men and women are gonna provide a great deal of that to our society. So thank you very much again for allowing me to be a part of this, and we hope you enjoy our final selection. Thank you.
applause
"Danzn No. 2" by Arturo Mrquez
"Danzn No. 2" by Arturo Mrquez
cheers and applause
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