Highland High School’s Strolling Strings Orchestra recently completed a two-month-long tour, bringing their music to communities across Gilbert and Mesa.

The tour not only provided valuable performance experience for students, enhancing their performing arts education, but also fostered connections within the local community.

With about 60 students, the Strolling Strings at Highland High features a diverse ensemble of violins, violas, cellos, basses, and even a piano.

Unlike traditional orchestras, the Strolling Strings are dynamic and mobile, moving throughout their performance space. This approach, combined with the challenge of memorizing 30-minute concerts and maintaining eye contact while smiling during performances, sets them apart and creates an engaging experience for audiences.

"There are so many additional layers to Strolling Strings compared to a traditional orchestra," Highland Orchestra Director Craig Ghormley said. "Our students are not only mastering their instruments but also developing essential performance skills through memorization and movement. It's been a joy to witness their development."

The Strolling Strings' tour had the students playing for eight local retirement homes, sharing their music and socializing with residents after each performance.

This year, the ensemble also performed at additional community events such as the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce Excellence Awards, former Gilbert Public Schools Superintendent Wally Delecki’s memorial service, Highland High School football games, marching band competitions and more.

With one to two performances per week through the months of January and February, the students in Strolling Strings gained experience playing on tour, preparing them for higher education and potential careers in music.

“It’s an incredible opportunity to connect with our local communities in the ways that we have," Ghormley said. "Our students become more than just performers, they’re representatives of our school, the Gilbert community, and performing arts as a whole."

Since Highland opened in the fall of 1993, the school, along with Highland Junior High and Gilbert Public Schools, has been committed to furthering performing arts within the community.

Highland Orchestras  consist of five performing ensembles, with an enrollment of more than 250 students.

In December 2002, the Highland Symphonic Strings became the first orchestra from an Arizona high school to perform in the world-renowned Carnegie Hall in New York and the Highland Symphonic Strings have also appeared four times at the prestigious Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago.

Those interested in learning more about performing arts across Gilbert Public Schools can visit GilbertSchools.net/Student-Life/Performing-Arts.