NMSA News:ALBUQUERQUE ― The New Mexico School for the Arts (NMSA) Chamber String Ensemble won the State Championship in the String Category at the NMAA State Orchestra Competition.
The competition, which took place March 31-April 1, featured 16 orchestras from throughout New Mexico and was sponsored by the New Mexico Activities Association.
NMSA Conductor Carla Lehmeier says, “The orchestra is thrilled by the announcement. Our students and faculty worked extremely hard to prepare for the competition. Most importantly, the students were extremely pleased with their performance after devoting six weeks of intense focus on the program.”
NMSA’s Chamber Strings performed four selections and received an average score of 98, securing the championship. Las Cruces High School received second place and La Cueva High School of Albuquerque placed in third. NMSA’s Chamber Strings has 24 students, representing six communities from New Mexico.
“NMSA is a very unique school with a tremendous amount of support from administration and faculty. At the heart of this support is the fact that each student receives private lessons as part of our curriculum. I feel very fortunate to work in a school where student learning and an arts education is the primary focus,” says Neil Swapp, Chair of the NMSA Music Department.
