As class sizes grow larger orchestra director Miriam Edgar anticipates teaching new students and continuing to mentor those who are returning.

According to Edgar, the orchestra had around 36 students when she first came to the district; around 60 enrolled two years ago, and now has around 100 registered for class this fall. Due to the growing number of students, the demand for instruments and individual student time is also increasing, Edgar said.

“We are actually adding a third class this year which I am super excited about,” Edgar said. “I think that it will be easier to work one-on-one with slightly smaller classes.”

Along with the need for more instruments, Edgar said the growing program requires more space for concerts and events.

“Instead of having everyone in chairs (at concerts) we will probably have to have the upper strings stand, because we were maxed out two years ago,” Edgar said.

Even though the expanding number of students in the orchestra presents a few conflicts, Edgar said she believes that the students have put in the necessary effort to advance the program.

“The students really, really had to work hard to build up our program,” Edgar said.

Sophomore Phillip Djerf plays the violin in the school orchestra and said he believes the orchestra plays an essential role in the community.

“I feel like it is important for kids to have opportunities in art and other extracurricular activities besides just school,” Djerf said. “Orchestra makes it really accessible because you can get money from the school if you can’t afford an instrument.”

While an expanding class size can be hard to adjust to Edgar said that it is one of their goals to make themselves familiar with this change.

“I think one of the big goals as a group is adjusting. I always feel like when we expand there is some small growing pains,” Edgar said.

According to Edgar, some of her favorite aspects of orchestra include the sense of family and the individual development of the students.

“Just watching their ability grow, I think it is really amazing how far a student can come from second-grade,” Edgar said. “It’s sort of like growing a garden, which is sort of corny. But instead I am growing an orchestra.”