As the first quarter wraps up, students who participate in the strings programs at Philip W. Sugg Middle School in Lisbon are busy preparing for the first of three performances they will be participating in this year. The ten musicians, Brittany Couillard, Sage Walton, Justice Levesque, Ben and Jordan Kates, Elliot Manocal, Caitlyn Owens, Sarah Giraldo, Ben Randall and Morgan Reeves, rehearse twice a week with orchestra director, Matthew Watras, at their side.

Mr. Watras is not only a strings ensemble director, but a music teacher in a wide variety of other areas. He also participates in the Portland Symphony Orchestra, playing the violin. Mr. Watras has been a music teacher for twelve years, seven in the Lisbon School Systems.

The four instruments offered in this unusual, but wonderful, musical group are the violin, viola, cello and string bass. These instruments are the important tools in preparing the three pieces that will be performed: Hey Fiddle Fiddle, Good News Blues and Branden Burg Concerto Number Three.

Although a small number of students are easy to work, with Mr. Watras urges new students to pursue learning to play one of the four instruments offered, and he would enjoy more participants. Mr. Watras feels the school system and town support the large and growing music groups very adequately, and displays no complaints. He feels strongly that the string ensembles are a great opportunity for both himself and the young musicians.

In my opinion, both of the two ensembles are off to a great start this year showing great commitment values and musical strengths. Some of the students have been in the program for four years and that alone speaks to what a great group this is. That saying about kids being the future really metaphorically applies when one can get the chance to watch eleven to fourteen year olds laying complex material like professionals. Great job and best of luck to Mr. Watras and all of his students!