The Hill Performers Bring Home ‘Most Outstanding Instrumental Performance Award’ at Music Festival
The Hill Performers, a group of fifth-grade students from Hill Intermediate School who play Orff instruments, competed in the Children’s Music Festival of Houston April 5. The group received the “Most Outstanding Instrumental Performance Award” for its performance of a lullaby from the Isle of Man.
Terri Nelli, music specialist at the campus, took 91 students to the festival held at the M.O. Campbell Educational Center.
The Orff philosophy encourages children to experience music at their own level of understanding. Improvisation is encouraged to allow children to explore the possibilities in music. A few examples of Orff instruments include a Bass xylophone, metalophone, a couple of alto and soprano xylophones and metalophones, some glockenspiels and soprano recorders.
The group performed three pieces at the competition: a medley arranged by Nelli of the songs “Gospel Train” by David Aspland and “Little David” by Rene Alexander, a folk lullaby from the Isle of Man, and “Body Jam” by Lamar Burkhalter.
This is the sixth year that the Hill Performers have competed in the Children’s Music Festival of Houston. And every year, the group has taken top honors.
Nelli is very proud of the students.
“I am so proud of my students for their dedication and desire to challenge themselves on a daily basis,” said Nelli. “All their hard work and persistence paid off.”
Jeff Kirkse, Randy DeLelles and Nelli arranged the music for the lullaby that the students performed at the festival.
The Hill Performers
