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TCSS Strings

"Kick Start"

We celebrated the successful performance of 61 musicians in Strings Attached. This group, consisting of students from five of our 11 elementary schools: Berta Weathersbee, Ethel W. Kight, Long Cane, Rosemont, and West Point, showcased their skills while performing an original piece composed by TCSS Strings Coordinator Callie Hammond. They were joined by Long Cane Middle School's COUGAR STRINGS and some of Troup High School's TIGER STRINGS.

Strings History

In 2014, Troup County School System and LaGrange Symphony Orchestra began a partnership for a shared vision of access to relevant and high-quality strings education for all students in the Troup County public school system.

The seeds for this vision were established in the fall of 2015 with the implementation of the LSO's Strings Attached program in four TCSS elementary schools. After five years of success with Strings Attached under the LaGrange Symphony's umbrella, the opportunity for every student in the county came to fruition with the arrival of Superintendent Dr. Brian Shumate in 2019. Dr. Shumate's vision is 'A Place For Every Kid' within TCSS, where every child can become and remain connected so that all will enjoy school, graduate, and find success and purpose. Music instruction is an integral part of that connection for students. 

In the fall of 2020, TCSS took the reins of the Strings Attached program, expanding it to all eleven elementary schools and hiring two full-time orchestra teachers to build programs at all three middle schools. In the 4th year of the program, there are now three full-time middle school orchestra teachers and two full-time high school orchestra teachers providing strings opportunities to students across grades 4th-12th at 17 TCSS schools. The success of the program to date has come from the cumulative teamwork and tremendous support of the Troup County School System, the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra, and the Callaway Foundation.

1st Year Strings Attached students at summer camp.

Black Violin + TCSS

Black Violin + TCSS Students Perform "Impossible is Possible" on the main stage at Sweetland Amphitheatre.

October 2023.

Instructors

PRIMARY INSTRUCTORS:

  • Patricia Dees - Orchestra Instructor @ Long Cane Middle School // Strings Attached Instructor @ EKES, LCES, & WPES
  • Rebecca Grabowski - Orchestra Instructor @ Callaway Middle School // Strings Attached Instructor @ CES, CVES, & HES
  • Sarah Gworek - Orchestra Instructor @ LaGrange High School // Co-Orchestra Instructor @ Callaway High School 
  • Callie Hammond - TCSS Strings Coordinator // Orchestra Instructor @ Troup High School // Co-Orchestra Instructor @ Callaway High School // Strings Attached Instructor @ BWES & RES
  • Robin Roberts - Orchestra Instructor @ Gardner Newman Middle School // Strings Attached Instructor @ HHE, HCES, & FFE
     

Assistant String Teachers:

  • John Curry - Assistant to Patty Dees @ LCES

  • Michael Ledbetter - Assistant to Rebecca Grabowski @ CES and HES

It's Time to Slay

Photos

News Conference

TCSS held a news conference announcing a new partnership between TCSS, Sweetland Amphitheater, & City of LaGrange.