On September 15th, the Rockwall High School Symphony Orchestra was named a Commended Winner in the 2016 Mark of Excellence/National Orchestra Honors Project.

The group was made up of more than seventy of the top players from the Rockwall HS Orchestra and Rockwall HS Band, and they performed together last spring creating the winning recording. It was Rockwall High School’s first year to produce and submit a recording in the full orchestra contest world.

“We have something special happening in the Rockwall High School Fine Arts Department,” said Charlsie Griffiths, Rockwall High School Orchestra Director.

The group finished in the top seven full orchestras. The Foundation for Music Education sponsors the project, and ensembles are adjudicated by nationally respected judges.

This year the project received 236 entries in all classifications from thirty-six states. The adjudicator for the contest was Larry Livingston, Chair of the Department of Conducting at the University of Southern California.