Lakes International Language Academy received a grant from the St. Croix Valley Foundation to fund an original composition for the Upper School band and orchestra program. Students will perform the work at a spring concert on May 15. Local Minnesota composer Daniel McConnel Smith has been selected by the commission to create the piece. He will also lead a clinic at the LILA Headwaters Campus in April, working with the student-musicians on the technical and musical aspects of the composition.
“The experience will give our students a unique insight as to how music is made from conception to performance,” LILA orchestra instructor Ken Schuster said in a press release.broadstreet.zone(48036);
Band instructor Karina Poyerd is also helping to implement the grant. Both orchestra and band students will participate in the project and performance.
Upper School students in grades 6-12 can select band or orchestra as one of their required arts classes. LILA’s middle school