Photos: Whitefish student orchestra grows

KELSEY EVANS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 months, 2 weeks AGO

Eighth grade violinists Kalina Bruckerhoff and Macey Meigs performing the famous Habanera solo from Carmen. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

Ninth grade cellist Madeline Spear. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

Tenth grade cellist Jasper Chisholm. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

Concertmaster Jackson Schindler leading the WHS Camerata. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

Ninth grade violinists Freya Hoge and Jessup Hutcheson at the winter concert on Dec. 17. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

Summer Boggess conducting the WHS Sinfonia. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

Eleventh grade violinist Logan Hyland. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

From left to right are eighth grade cellists Darien Sorensen, Theo Kanter and Chana Melnick. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

Ninth grade violinists Freya Hoge and Jessup Hutcheson at the winter concert on Dec. 17. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)

A record-breaking number of orchestra students from Whitefish High School and Middle School took to the stage at the Performing Arts Center on Dec. 17 for a winter concert.

“It's exciting to watch the program grow and to see the passion from these young musicians. We have supportive orchestra parents as well who all came out to hear the concert,” said Summer Boggess, orchestra director.

All told, 243 orchestra students performed, 74 of which were high school students. The increased participation required two high school ensembles with Sinfonia for ninth graders and Camerata for 10th to 12th graders.