Axemen string orchestra wins title.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Zing - went the South Eugene Strings on its way to winning the Northwest Orchestra Festival.

Up against bigger high schools from Seattle, Portland and Tacoma that usually dominate regional competitions, the Axemen's string orchestra, conducted by Richard Long, nabbed first place in Division IV competition held March 13 at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham.

"I consider this a tremendous accomplishment," said Long, whose 35-member orchestra also captured the title four years ago.

`I wish everyone in Eugene could enjoy the incredible experience I get conducting these students and watching their talents, friendships and passions grow as they explore and perform great music. It was an exhilarating experience for me, not to see them `win,' but to be a part of their music making and watch their faces when they accepted their applause.

"The beauty was not in winning the trophy. It was in the knowing that they, as a group and as individuals, had done a tremendous job of sharing their music with the audience, the judges and each other."

Long said the achievement is a tribute to Eugene's music community.

"It draws attention to the school and administration ... to the remarkable work of all the Eugene public school music teachers who worked with these students before they got to SEHS, to the incredible private teachers we are blessed with in our community who work with these students on a weekly basis and to the supporting and caring parents who make these dreams possible and advocate tirelessly for public school music programs. And, most importantly, to the SEHS String Ensemble members, who practiced, rehearsed and performed brilliantly."