Nine Stanislaus County high schools will perform in Modesto Junior College’s High School Orchestra Day from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday in the Auditorium of the Performing and Media Arts Center on East Campus. The performance is free and open to the public and parking is free during event hours in the lots immediately surrounding the Auditorium.

MJC Community Orchestra conductor and string professor, Anne Martin, will host the event.

The high school orchestra students will perform works by a variety of composers including Anderson, Bach, Balmages, Beethoven, Gliere and Yamada.

The Teacher’s Chamber Ensemble will perform a musical medley by A. H. Rahman from the movie “Slumdog Millionaire.” 

The Patterson High School Orchestra, under the direction of Jennifer Schipper Sanchez, a graduate of MJC, will participate for the first time in the MJC High School Orchestra Day.  The other participating high schools include Downey, directed by Joanne Neuffer; Davis, directed by Mark Davila; Turlock, led by Joe Tovar; Pitman, led by Don Grishaw; Enochs High directed by Phil Vallejo; Modesto High directed by Matt Cover; Gregori , led by Paul Herrera, and Johansen led by Brad Hart. 

Each high school will perform a 10 minute selection of orchestra repertoire.

The event will end with a famous Scottish/Irish reel, “Mari’s Wedding,” performed by over 200 high school string musicians.  The community is invited to come enjoy this celebration of string playing in Stanislaus County.