About

Leestown Middle School

Leestown is a wonderfully diverse school that celebrates and takes pride in its diversity. The orchestra program takes very seriously the responsibility of educating all students to the fullest in music as well as character development and personal leadership.

We have a code of conduct at school and in the orchestra room: “The Leestown Way”. The code reminds our students daily to practice RESPECT - Remembering basic kindness, Encouraging others, Standing together, Playing fair, Extending a hand, Causing no harm, and Thinking first.

“The Leestown Way” really makes our school special. It is a daily to practice of RESPECT! These are topics taught and discussed in the orchestra room everyday.

Leestown offers a rigorous curriculum to prepare students for high school, with accelerated classes at each grade level and a wide range of exploratory experiences including French, Spanish, robotics, and speech and drama. We have a strong family atmosphere that encourages each student not only to excel in academics but also to grow socially and emotionally.

+++

The Orchestra Program

Orchestra is one of the most successful and rewarding classes at Leestown Middle School. We are a KMEA Distinguished Rated Ensemble, KMEA Gold Level Program of Excellence recipient, and a Music in the Park Festival Superior Rated, Best Overall Orchestra, and Spirit Award winner.

As an orchestra member you will: (1) learn how to play an instrument, (2) read music, (3) make new friends, (4) and learn life skills.

+++

KMEA Distinguished Rated Ensemble - Distinguished Since 2009

Leestown Middle School is a member of KMEA and is eligible to participate in KMEA sponsored or sanctioned assessment events.

This is how the orchestra will be graded.

The groups will perform a minimum of two (2) selections in the allotted performance time of 20 minutes. In addition, each group will sight-read a piece that they have never seen before. The teacher is allotted two minutes to review the piece in silence. After that, The director has five minutes to teach the students the music. During that time, the students are not allowed to play their instruments.

All groups have a choice of playing for ratings or comments. The following ratings are awarded:

I Distinguished: Represents A Superior Performance – All basic elements performed on an exceptional artistic level with an accomplished performance and technical presentation.

II Proficient: Represents an Excellent Performance That Is Outstanding In Some Respects – All basic elements performed on an adequate artistic level with limited, but noticeable and obvious, performance and technical inconsistencies.

+++

KMEA Orchestra Program of Excellence - Gold Level Recipient since 2009

Purpose of Award: The KMEA Orchestra Program of Excellence Award is designed to recognize those school orchestra programs on a local, regional and state level that have achieved a high level of performance both within and outside KMEA orchestra sponsored events.

Award Description: The KMEA Orchestra Program of Excellence Award is a certificate signed by the President of KMEA as well as the Program of Excellence (POE) chair with the distinction of Gold Level, Silver Level and Bronze Level to be determined by the total number of points earned using the KMEA Orchestra Program of Excellence Application and the verification of the supporting materials.

Criteria for the Award includes:

1. Distinguished Ratings at the annual KMEA District Orchestra Assessment.

2. High Percentage of total student body enrolled in Orchestra.

3. Number of students in Orchestra Program that participate in KMEA District Solo and Ensemble.

4. One or more shared concerts with another school.

5. Individual student participation in an All-District/All-County/Quad State/Honor Orchestra.

6. One or more integrated concert(s) of the orchestra with another ensemble from your school or guest artist(s) per year.

7. Individual students participation in Youth Orchestra/Community Ensemble/University Ensemble.

8. Ensemble performance(s) such as parades, nursing homes, businesses, etc.

+++

Music in the Parks Festival - Superior Rated, Best Overall Orchestra, and Spirit Award Winner.

Music in the Parks is a day-long or two-day festival for student choral, orchestral, and band ensembles, held annually across the United States. Music groups perform before adjudicators who rate the ensemble in the morning, and then spend the day at an amusement park. The day culminates with an awards ceremony.

+++

What a joy it is to go to work at Leestown!

The students are caring and generous. They are bright and resourceful. This is my dream job, because I get to give everything . . . everything that I have to offer, every day . . . What more could you ask for in a vocation?

With joy and hope, Nathan Wilson