A shared rehearsal and “informance” created a collaborative learning experience for student musicians from two schools.
Last week, the Wellington orchestra welcomed visiting student musicians from Lake Ridge Academy (LRA), an independent school located 30 minutes southwest of Cleveland, for a joint rehearsal and performance experience. The collaboration was led by Emma Carson, Wellington’s new director of strings, in partnership with Ruth Cavano, orchestra director at LRA. The two studied together at Case Western Reserve University, and when Cavano began planning a student trip to the Cincinnati area, she reached out to Carson with the idea of creating a meaningful stop along the way.
Now in her first year at Wellington, Carson has already made an impression as a skilled and ambitious educator. Her leadership in organizing this visit reflects her commitment to expanding opportunities for students and fostering musical growth through connection. During the visit, students rehearsed and performed “Danse” by Samuel Coleridge Taylor — a piece the Wellington orchestra had previously performed at its February concert. The rehearsal gave students the chance to play in a larger ensemble, share feedback during a student-led “informance,” and benefit from the combined expertise of Cavano, a lower strings specialist, and Carson, who brings deep knowledge of upper strings. The experience highlighted the power of collaboration, peer learning, and professional partnership. The door is open for future connections — and both schools are excited about where this one might lead.