By Tim Stretton,Lewiston Middle School

It all started with auditions in Portland during the month of October. Over 30 schools brought students to audition for the instrumental and vocal festivals to be held later on in the year. Over 20 Lewiston Middle School students went to these auditions to try out and hopefully score high enough to be chosen to participate in the festival. They were competing against several hundred other middle school age students. From Lewiston Middle a total of 15 students made it into the festival with 6 chosen to participate in the vocal festival and 9 in the instrumental festival.

On Jan. 29 Andrew Tracy, Shane Elaison, Miranda Pepin, Amanda Martin, Stephanie Gagne, and Garielle Barboza went to Windham High School where the vocal festival was held. (Our 6th vocal student was Samantha Timmermeyer who was unable to attend due to illness.) They rehearsed all day with a guest conductor and concluded the day with a 4:00 performance of music that was learned during this one day festival!!

The Instrumental Festival was held at Leavitt Area High School in Turner on Feb. 5. Like the vocal festival, students worked with a guest conductor and also put on a 4:00 performance after having only worked on the music for one day. The following students participated in this festival, Anna Smedley, Cameron Dufour, Matt Lamare, Hannah Rodrigue, Jenifer Soucy, Jennifer Bergeron, Amy Yeaung, and Ruth Choate. (Carley Denis was also selected to attend but was unable to go.)

Way to go guys!!