The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
School district invests in orchestra
The Amherst Exempted Village School District has a full-fledged orchestra program that is growing in popularity each year.
Anna Davis, the district’s orchestra teacher, said the program’s original number of 92 students has increased to a much larger group in year three of the program.
“I have a passion for music and the students,” Davis said. “I have taught orchestra for eight years now, and have loved every year of it.”
Davis said the job opening was available at Amherst in 2015 and she took advantage.
“You never know if something is going to work out the way you want it to, but Amherst has truly been a great experience for me,” she said. “There wasn’t an orchestra program here, so it was something I had to start from scratch.
“The administration has been completely supportive of the vision I have for the program. They are not orchestra experts, so I am forever grateful for the amount of trust they have given me.”
Davis said the program started with fifth graders in 2015 and has traveled with them from there.
“It was originally at Nord Middle School and is now in grades fifth to eighth,” she said. “The program will be in its first year in the high school when the current eighth graders go there next year.
“I will have to travel between three buildings next year, until they hire someone to help me out the following year.”
Davis said she is looking forward to working with the students at Marion L. Steele High School and it has been great seeing them through the whole process.
Despite the district already having band and choir, she said there always is room for the strings.
“There is something very soothing about the orchestra,” Davis said. “Stringed instruments appeal to certain students. That is a huge reason the program has caught on as well as it has.
“Students should have the option of whatever instrument they want. Amherst students can now choose from a plethora of instruments, and that is due to the district’s commitment to the program and the possibilities of orchestra.”
Davis said orchestra puts an emphasis on hands-on learning.
“Learning is shifting to an online focus, so it is important to still get the handon experience kids can get from orchestra,” she said. “I want orchestra to be a safe space where these students can build relationships, work together and became vocal leaders.
“This is their safe space and it’s great to see how the instruments allow some to open up and hang out with those of a common interest.”
Jaxon Cogar, 13, a seventh-grader at Amherst Junior High School, said the orchestra program is really fun.
“Mrs. Davis does a great job teaching us and making everything fun,” Jaxon said. “I don’t think I would like it as much if she wasn’t the teacher.
“I love learning new songs and being part of the great group that we have.”
The next concert for the orchestra, which is free to the public, is 7 p.m., May 9, in the Amherst Junior High School Gymnasium, 548 Milan Ave. in Amherst.