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Timberland Musician Selected for Missouri All-State Orchestra
Timberland High School freshman, Kaya McNurlen has been selected to the violin section of the Missouri All-State Orchestra. In January, over 230 string players across the state auditioned virtually for this honor and only 79 were selected. For her performance, McNurlen was appointed 12th violin out of 36 in the ensemble.
McNurlen comes from a family of musicians and started practicing the violin over six years ago. She shares the credit for this accomplishment with her teacher, Kirby Kay. “I have to thank Kirby for being the best teacher and one of my best friends in the time that I’ve known her,” McNurlen said, “I’ve been taking lessons with her for the last three years and we’ve moved very fast. I never would have been able to progress this far in my playing if it weren’t for her constant support.”
Although the All-State Orchestra will not meet to rehearse or perform this year due to the pandemic, this year’s chosen conductor, Sey Ahn, Director of Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble at Illinois Wesleyan University, will provide a virtual session about three pieces of music to the students. This year’s selected musicians will be recognized during the annual Missouri Music Educators Association Conference, being held virtually this year, January 27 - February 3, 2021.