This video was created by Kelsey Kosman, Annabell Steil, Lillian Morrissey, Caroline See, Paige Beck, and Shannon Beck in the Video Documentary J-term at Mount Vernon High School that met from January 7-18, 2019.
Story by Lillian Morrissey
The Mount Vernon Orchestra program continually has many students who receive honors for their hard work and talent. These honors include Kennedy Honor Orchestra, NEITSA Honor Orchestra, ISTA Honor Orchestra, Metro Honor Orchestra, and Iowa Junior Honors Orchestra.
Mount Vernon High School musicians have auditioned for All-State every year and many have been accepted. Some recent students who auditioned and succeeded include Elizabeth Meier-Gast, Zach Vig, and Martin Benesh.
Many high school orchestra students participate in the State Solo/Ensemble contest each year and many who go get a “1” superior rating.
“The high school orchestra attends State Large Group contest every year,” said Tabitha Rasmussen, Orchestra Director since 2003. Many of the years the Orchestra has received a “1” superior rating.
Many students who participated in orchestra go on to major in music or music education or continue to play for their community or in college orchestra after graduation. “I think the biggest achievement is there is more kids who are continuing to play after high school both in college and just for fun after they graduate,” said Rasmussen.
The orchestra as a whole was once very small but has grown in size under the leadership of Rasmussen. Orchestra 4-12 grew from 40 kids to 160 kids since 2003, while the high school went from 11 students to 34 students.
