All-City Orchestra Concert Slated for March 11 at West Florence High School

Florence School District One will showcase its orchestra programs with the annual All-City Orchestra Concert. The All City Orchestra event features middle and high schools strings students in a concert held on Tuesday, March 11 at 7:00 p.m. in the West Florence High School auditorium. The concert is free and open to the public.

The first performance of the evening will be a string orchestra performance by middle school orchestra students from Sneed, Southside, and Williams with guest conductor Barrett Jackson of Florence.

The second performance will follow which will be a second-year orchestra performance by middle school strings students from Sneed, Southside, and Williams with guest conductor Sarah Fitzgerald of Charleston, SC.

The third and final performance of the evening will be a string orchestra presentation by high schools students from West Florence, South Florence, and Wilson High schools. The guest conductor for the orchestra is Matthew Peebles of Charleston, SC. The Florence School District One Young Artist Winner, Worth Lewallen of West Florence High School, will also be featured in the high school orchestra performing the first movement of the violin concerto, No. 2 by Joseph Haydn.

Florence One strings teachers are Mark Jackson, South Florence; Rhonda Lee, West Florence; and Ramonta Lee, Wilson.

For more information, call Laura Greenway at 673-1134.

March 14th: Florence School District One Seeks Best Vocalist

Florence One has announced the final competition date for District One’s Vocal Star. The event will be held on Friday, March 14th at 6:00 p.m. in the Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center. Reserved ticket seating is available for the event. Tickets are on sale now at the FMU Performing Arts Center box office, 210 South Dargan Street which is open from Noon – 5:00 PM Monday –Friday or by phone at 661-4444. Adult Admission is $10; student tickets are $5. Tickets will also be available at the door the night of the event

The competition will consist of performances by eight finalists from each age division (elementary, middle and high) with a winner named from each division. The three division winners will go head-to-head in a sing-off held on the evening of the competition. The winner named “District One’s Best Vocalist” will receive a $500 prize.

Performing Arts Coordinator Laura Greenway invites the community to share in the display of District One’s vocal talent. “The opportunity students experience in this competition, both first round and the finals, teaches skills through music performance that will remain with them throughout their entire lives. “

Singers in the elementary division (Grades 4-6) include: Mia Anderson, Briggs; Antonio Brown, North Vista; Emily Edgerton,Timrod; Sophia Li, Greenwood; Alexa Matthews, Greenwood; Jaydon Isaiah McKnight, Timrod; and Sara Morris, Briggs.

Middle division singers are: (Grades 7-8) Grace Avin, Southside; Jazmine Bolden, Sneed; Jonathan Davis, Southside; David Brown Graham, Williams; Daniel Hilbourn, Williams; Faith Hyman, Southside; Anshel Ross, Southside; and Shiffon Wells, Southside.

High School division (Grade 9-12 ) singers are Emily Coker, West Florence; Katie Coker, West Florence; Marena Dials, Wilson;Naya McElveen, Wilson; Gwyneth Navey, Wilson; Ivey Whitehead, South Florence; and Sam Thompson, Wilson.

For information call Laura Greenway at 843-673-1134 or 843-621-5450.

February 22nd: The Best Singer in the District at West Florence High School

The event:  “Best Singer in the District”

When: Feb. 22

Where: West Florence High School Auditorium

Time: $6

Admission: $5

Brief description:  This first ever event is being sponsored by Florence School District One Music Department. There will be 24 finalists that will sing for a panel of judges, “American Idol” style. The winner of this event will progress to the state finals of “Best Singer in the State” and be awarded a cash prize of $500. A sell-out is expected so get your tickets beginning on Feb 4^th at the School District Office (Laura Greenway) or from any public school.

For more information contact:  LGreenway@fsd1.org 673-1134.