The Newman Smith High School Orchestra has earned Sweepstakes at UIL for the 33rd year in a row. The Sweepstakes designation is the designation for an orchestra that receive a 1st division in both concert and sight-reading. A 1st division rating is the best rating that can be received. There is a 3 member panel of judges for both the concert room and the sight-reading room and a at least two of the three have to give a 1st division to reach that level. In this case, all three judges in both rooms gave the Newman Smith Orchestra a first division.
Among the pieces played was Nocturne by Hofeldt. Fine Arts Director, Brett Farr, stated, “the judge expressed that the Newman Smith Varsity String Orchestra’s performance on that particular song was the best high school orchestra performance that she had ever heard.”
Twenty-nine middle school and high school orchestras from CFB competed at UIL, and an amazing 22 of those orchestras received the Sweepstakes award. Additionally, 11 of CFB’s Middle School Choirs received the Sweepstakes award at their annual UIL contest.
The director of the the Trojan Orchestra is Jessica Milbrandt, who is also an alumna of the school.