150-plus strings students complete orchestra camp on Star Wars note

With the precision of the imperial army standing ready for battle behind Darth Vader, the students who participated in the PWCS Orchestra Camp finished their closing concert with a medley of Star Wars themes.

Ranging from Padawans (brand new strings students) to The Strings of the Sith, to Yoda al Coda, the students followed the Star Wars theme in naming their own groups. The rousing response from the audience proved that all of the hard work was worth the time put into rehearsal and learning the music.

The summer orchestra camp began with 10 students in 2009 and continues to grow each year, with 150+ students in 2017. Karen von Bernewitz, Lake Ridge Middle School strings teacher, co-founded the camp and has coordinated it every summer since.

Strings teachers and orchestra directors from schools across the county are the camp teachers. Future plans include options for scholarships for camp and musical instruments.