From the gleaming russet wood of pint-sized instruments, to the shining buckles on children’s dress shoes, to the carefully-practiced notes of the Hallelujah Chorus, Thursday night’s All-Island Winter Strings Concert was full of polish. About 150 students participate in the strings program each year, learning violin, viola, cello and — in some cases — bass under the instruction of Nancy Jephcote and Chelsea Pennebaker.
The littlest violinists had waited a long time for their stage debut, when at last they could flourish their bows just as their teachers did: up, down, out in front, sideways, up, down, on their heads.
Music, arts and enrichment programs in the Island schools are on the block for downsizing as the Vineyard schools superintendent tries to craft a budget for the coming year with little or no increase over last year.
And if the 2011 $3.5 million shared services budget for fiscal year 2011 unveiled last week is approved by the All-Island School Committee, the elementary strings program will be first in line for cuts.