MISSOULA – We went behind the scenes to see how high schools from Missoula and Great Falls are preparing for one major performance in this Arts and Education report.
We stopped by a recent rehearsal for the 2019 High School AA Orchestra Festival which consists of around 150 students from Missoula and Great Falls.
They all come together for one fantastic performance and as you might imagine, preparing for this can be difficult as preparation and practice time is limited.
“So less than a 48-hour turnaround from starting the process to our concert. Today we will have five hours of rehearsal and yesterday we had five hours of rehearsal,” AA Orchestra Festival Director Jennifer Drake explained.
So, let’s get this straight — several different high schools from Great Falls and Missoula, coming together for the first time, very little practice time to prepare. But these kids never missed a beat.
Drake has been teaching and playing music for over 30 years and her love of music goes beyond just playing an instrument or directing an orchestra or band.
She told us it’s the overall feeling and sense of community that she loves the most.
“What I love about music is how it connects people and communities and ideas altogether. Music is just so heartfelt and physical, everything about it just links people and ideas together.”
Reporting by Lewis Dortch for MTN News
