BLACKSBURG, Va. — I am beyond proud of these talented young musicians who participated in the Virginia Tech Honor String Orchestra Festival this weekend. Matthias, Ryan, and Miya represented Annandale High School and Falls Church High School with exceptional skill and technique.

This year marked the inaugural Virginia Tech Honor String Orchestra Festival, hosted by the School of Performing Arts. The event showcased more than 100 high school students, who were recommended by their directors. Participants attended masterclasses led by Virginia Tech’s string faculty. They performed in a combined concert with the Virginia Tech Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of Mathias Elmer, the university’s director of orchestral activities.

📸: absolonkent.net/photogallery/index.php?/category/593

📹: absolonkent.net/AHS_Peforming_Arts/VT_Honor_Strings_Festival_2024/

📹: Ride of the Rangers by Kirt Mosier (YouTube Video via Virginia Tech Philharmonic Orchestra) — youtube.com/watch?v=qv6muRtR5Gs

📹: Mother Goose Suite by Maurice Ravel (YouTube Video via Virginia Tech Philharmonic Orchestra) — youtube.com/watch?v=en0DkyCUbN0

📹: Finlandia, op. 26 by Jean Sibelius (YouTube Video via Virginia Tech Philharmonic Orchestra) — youtube.com/watch?v=OeuslnCmzls

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HARRISONBURG, Va. — Located just west of Massanutten Mountain in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, James Madison University is a public research university with more than 21,000 students. Originally founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the institution was renamed in 1938 in honor of the fourth president of the United States, James Madison. Today, with more than 130 programs of study, James Madison University has expanded from its origins as a normal school and teachers college into a comprehensive university.

#FallCollegeTour2024 #TeamKent

FORT MONROE, Va. — "Freedom's Fortress," Fort Monroe, is located on the southern tip of Virginia's Peninsula and was established in 1609. Its picturesque setting along the Chesapeake Bay offers visitors a deep dive into the complexities of American history, architecture, and military heritage.

Fortified in the 19th century, this impressive coastal fortress was a key military post during the U.S. Civil War and played a significant role in the history of slavery and freedom in the United States. In 1619, the ship carrying the first enslaved Africans arrived at Point Comfort, now Fort Monroe.

Today, the monument encompasses the fort's extensive ramparts, a scenic waterfront, and the Casemate Museum, which showcases artifacts and exhibits related to the fort’s military history.

📸: absolonkent.net/photogallery/index.php?/category/574

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COLONIAL BEACH, Va. — The George Washington Birthplace National Monument commemorates the birthplace of the United States' first President. The former plantation's grounds include a replica Colonial-era house, gardens, and a colonial kitchen. It also features exhibits about Washington's early life and the plantation's history, offering insights into his upbringing and the cultural landscape of colonial Virginia in the 18th century.

📸: absolonkent.net/photogallery/index.php?/category/571

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