DSISD orchestra students perform impromptu concert

The Dripping Springs Tiger Orchestra, made up of students from all three DSISD secondary schools recently presented their families with a treat--an impromptu concert. Donning masks, with bows in hand, the orchestra students performed outdoors in front of Sycamore Springs Middle School the evening of November 19.

Due to COVID-19, rehearsals are different this year, with most orchestra students being taught virtually via zoom. Still, Director of Orchestras, Jackie Wogick wanted to find a way the students could safely come together to perform.

"In response to the pandemic, so many of us have become isolated and are separated from the joy that human interaction brings. Music is that unspoken joy that all of our hearts need," Wogick said. She is of course proud of the continued commitment by her students. “These students have worked so hard, and in such a challenging setting, yet they have stuck with me and dug in with such determination. I'm so, so proud of them! They should share the fruits of their hard work and the community needs to see that good things are coming out of this year in spite of the difficulties."

The DSISD Orchestra Program is only in its second year. The program began as a club meeting before school in 2014 and was added as an elective to the school academics in 2018. The first class of beginners started last fall in 2019. This year, the program has already topped 100 students in the four orchestras that meet at Sycamore Springs and Dripping Springs Middle Schools and the Dripping Springs High School -- Beginning Orchestra, Concertante Orchestra, Sinfonietta Orchestra and the Camerata Orchestra.