Holy Innocents' Episcopal School

Every performance – from our Lower through Upper School orchestras – receives highest possible rating from judges.

Consistency of excellence doesn't come easy. It takes a lot of hard work – which is something the orchestra musicians at HIES have learned through experience.

 

At this week's GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluations, the HIES orchestra program once again earned a clean sweep of "Superior" ratings – the highest mark possible – at every performance of every grade level!

 

While no official GMEA records are kept year to year and school to school, no member of the Fine Arts faculty can remember the last time one of our orchestras received anything less than the highest possible mark – a run of excellence that now extends for well over 15 years.

 

"This is not an easy evaluation," says MS/US orchestra director Elizabeth Lambeck. "The judges are very exacting in their work and demand that the highest standards be achieved in musicianship, presentation, preparation. There aren't that many 'superiors' handed out each year."

Adds orchestra assistant teacher Jane McRae, "It really speaks volumes about our kids; they put their hearts and souls into the program, and they represent our school so well."

 

Lower School orchestra director Mike Bryant shared some of the judges' comments from their scoring sheets – all of which placed the HIES groups in the top 5% of the rating scale:

 

 

Taking in these comments and what they mean to the HIES Fine Arts department, Bryant added, "It takes a village and we need to thank all the teachers and administrators for what they do to contribute to our musical success."