Honors String Orchestra Festival

Musicland’s First Annual Honors String Orchestra Festival, hosted in partnership with TCSD #1, brought together more than 70 middle school string students in grades 6–8 from four districts across Wyoming and Idaho, including Teton County, WY, Teton County, ID, Star Valley, WY, and Sugar Salem, ID. Under the leadership of Musicland Executive Director Michelle Quinn, students worked alongside district teachers Vince Gutwein (Jackson Hole Middle School), Lisa Barber (Star Valley Middle School), Lisa Schindler (Teton Middle School), and Jenni Warner (Sugar Salem Middle School). Renowned conductor Barb Scowcroft of the Utah Youth Orchestras and Utah Symphony led the festival, traveling to each school for coaching sessions before the culminating March 11 concert. The event concluded with a full-day rehearsal and evening performance at Jackson Hole High School, celebrating regional collaboration and excellence in youth string education.