By ROBERT LINNEHAN
A member of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and a senior at Haddonfield Memorial High School, Kathryn Dark was selected as one of the members of the 2011 All-National Honor Ensembles. The students selected will rehearse and perform together in June 2011 in Washington, D.C.
Dark has been playing the viola for the past six years and the violin for the five previous years. She is an honors student at Haddonfield Memorial High School and is also involved with student government, academic challenge, math club, and she is a student representative for the board of education.
In addition to school, she is also involved within her church through bell choir, singing choir, and youth group. Prior to her acceptance to the all national orchestra, Dark was a member of the All South Jersey, All New Jersey and All Eastern Honor Orchestras, and sitting principal viola for the New Jersey All State Orchestra. Dark currently studies with Gerry Rice.
“We are very pleased to offer this unique performance opportunity to a very select group of our nation’s finest high school musicians,” said David Weatherred, MENC Northwest Division past-president and chair of the All-National Honor Ensembles. “Over the course of four days, these top flight musicians will rehearse with marvelous and inspirational conductors, leading up to an exceptional finale performance on June 26. The 2011 MENC All-National Honor Ensembles will most surely be a once in a lifetime musical experience for these incredible high school musicians.”
MENC, The National Association for Music Education, among the world’s largest arts education organizations, marked its centennial in 2007 as the only association that addresses all aspects of music education.
According to representatives, through MENC’s membership of more than 75,000 active, retired, and pre-service music teachers, and with 60,000 honor students and supporters, MENC serves millions of students nationwide through activities at all teaching levels, from preschool to graduate school.
