Morris Middle School orchestra students recently had the opportunity to receive lessons from Grammy-award winning rock violinist, Haydn Vitera, as part of an ongoing partnership with Electrify Your Symphony, an educational company that showcases alternative styles in orchestra classrooms.
Vitera, a multi-talented instrumentalist who has performed with artists like George Strait and Stevie Wonder, had planned to host a concert at Morris back in May, however, due to COVID-related closures, the concert was postponed.
The lesson, arranged by Morris orchestra directors Laurie Arnold and Lisa Russell, took place on November 10. Orchestra students tuned in to a Zoom call with Vitera as he played his six-string electric Viper violin. During the lessons, Vitera instructed the students in new bow and string techniques, as well as choreography.
“All of the kids were up and moving and playing to a new beat,” said Russell. “They also learned the all important ‘Bow to the Sky’ pose in which all rock orchestra songs are ended.”
After all of the lessons have been completed, Vitera and students will be performing in a professionally edited and choreographed video produced by Electrify Your Symphony. Each student will create and submit individual videos for a final production video of “Hunters of Avatar.”
“We will have plenty more to share as this is a long project and partnership with our school,” said Russell.
Additionally, as part of Electrify Your Symphony’s partnership with Morris, Vitera will be performing a virtual concert for the families of Morris orchestra students on November 16 at 7:00 p.m.