Today Molly played for the last time with a fine group of young musicians, the Green Mountain Youth Symphony. When we signed her up for a year of orchestra we did not realize extraordinary caliber of its conductor, Bob Blais.  What a fantastic experience. They played some works of Vermont composers, who were in the audience, and four film scores: Gladiator, Narnia, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter–Half-Blood Prince. Don’t dismiss these as fluffy pop; they were challenging pieces, and it was just hard to believe this was not an adult, professional ensemble.

My favorite part was the sudden caesura in the LOTR score. The echo in the old hall (the Barre Opera House) sounded like a dying gasp, an ethereal cry.  Hauntingly beautiful.

This experience will reverberate in my heart as I treasure this blessing from God for my daughter’s last year of homeschool.