Tracie and I are thrilled to share the news: Lila Jane will be cello first chair in our district’s All Region Orchestra. We couldn’t be more happy or excited for her! She and her classmates all auditioned on Saturday and we were given the final rankings yesterday.

There’s no way to sugarcoat this: last year she flubbed her audition and even though she still had a solid score, she didn’t make the cut.

Over the last year, she worked so hard and devoted herself to her instrument. All that effort paid off! She was only one point away from being included in the region’s top orchestra (she’s in the second-tier orchestra). And she may still get bumped up (because people often drop out).

Lila Jane, we are so proud of you!

Georgia was viola first chair in the second-tier orchestra last year. That was her eighth grade “senior” outing. Now she’s a freshman at the school for performing arts. She auditioned a week ago and missed the cutoff for 9th grade All Region by one point. One point! Few freshman are admitted to the high school level orchestra and so we are still extremely happy with her result. There’s about a 50-50 chance that someone will drop out and she will be admitted. Either way, we are so proud of her, too.

Both girls are thriving and have wonderful friends groups.

Lila is enjoying her “senior” year at middle school and her orchestra will be performing at the prestigious Midwest Clinic this December in Chicago. She just went to her homecoming dance.

Georgia got her butt kicked academically at the beginning of the school year but now she’s on her feet and her grades are where we want them to be. She’s loving her school and has already found her high school crew.

And I am one PROUD DAD! Thanks for letting me share our joy. And heartfelt thank yous to all of their wonderful teachers who have supported and rooted for them all these years!