By Rob Whitmire

Students in SPASH’s Honors Orchestra were themselves honored on Jan. 14 — with an invitation.

The group of 13 students were invited to perform at the inaugural Wisconsin Valley Conference Honors Orchestra Festival, held at Marshfield Senior High School.

The guest conductor for the festival was Andres Moran, who was recently appointed at UW-Stevens Point as music director for the UWSP Symphony Orchestra and artist/teacher of horn.

The students, under the direction of Cynthia Kiepert, were nominated based on their musical achievement, musical advancement and their desire to learn.

They students are: violinists Hope Mahon, Alyssa Schroeckenthaler, Faith Kluck, Julie Riley, Tam Doan, and Emma Kowalski; Frederick Van Tiem and Emily Young, who play the viola; cellists Emily Pumper, Kaia Houtman and Lilianna Rowlands; and string bassists Sean Hardiman and Jordan Garski.

The festival was an all-day event of rehearsals and sectionals, which culminated with a performance later that day.

The WVC Honors Orchestra also included selected students from D.C. Everest High School, Wausau East and West high schools, Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln and Marshfield High School.