Sixteen students from El Sistema Lehigh Valley (ESLV) received the highest rating, Superior; the Overall Orchestra Award, and were the only group to receive the Esprit de Corps Award for the group that showed the highest level of professionalism during performances in the Music in the Parks Festival held June 1 at Northeast Middle School, Bethlehem.

ESLV’s advanced orchestra, The Fellowship of The Strings, led by Program Manager and Orchestra Conductor Kaylee Santanello, performed the overture to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Felix Mendelssohn, arranged by Ron De Grandis, and “Beethoven in Blue Jeans,” a medley of music by Ludwig van Beethoven, arranged by Michael Hopkins.

The ensemble, competing with groups from the Lehigh Valley and some from New York and Connecticut, was the only group to receive three awards.

ESLV completed its 2018-2019 season with a Spring Concert, June 6, Miller Symphony Hall, Allentown.

El Sistema Lehigh Valley is a program of the Allentown Symphony Association that brings “underserved and special needs youth a free opportunity to develop life skills learned by participating in high-quality daily music instruction, large ensemble experience and performances, and academic tutoring within a safe and nurturing environment” at three schools in the Allentown School District: Roosevelt Elementary School, South Mountain Middle School, and Raub Middle School.

Information or to enroll your child in El Sistema Lehigh Valley: Kaylee Santanello, Program Manager of El Sistema Lehigh Valley, ksantanello@allentownsymphony.org; 610.432.7961, ext. 206