Midlakes Students Perform in Rochester Wind Symphony
Five middle schoolers joined the Hochstein Junior Wind Symphony for a local performance.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Classical
Five instrumentalists from Midlakes Middle School participated in a concert with the Hochstein Junior Wind Symphony. The students joined their peers from the Greater Rochester area to perform under the direction of John Rolland.
Why it matters
The program offers an intensive ensemble experience designed for seventh and eighth grade musicians. It provides students with a professional-level performance opportunity supported by regional and state arts funding.
Five students from Midlakes Middle School joined the Hochstein Junior Wind Symphony in Rochester. The ensemble includes selected seventh and eighth grade instrumentalists from across the Greater Rochester area.
The players
John Rolland
He served as the director for the Hochstein Junior Wind Symphony ensemble.
Ellen Lincoln
She is one of the five students from Midlakes Middle School who participated in the performance.
Elijah Payne
He is one of the five students from Midlakes Middle School who participated in the performance.
Shelby Cummings
She is one of the five students from Midlakes Middle School who participated in the performance.
Sammy Bishop
He is one of the five students from Midlakes Middle School who participated in the performance.
The details
Participants are expected to arrive at the first rehearsal with their music already mastered to facilitate the intensive short-session format. The ensemble receives financial backing from the New York State Council on the Arts and the Louise Alfreda Hill Memorial Fund.
Timeline
October 24, 2026: Students performed with the Hochstein Junior Wind Symphony.
Industry Dynamics
This performance highlights the ongoing reliance on state-sponsored arts initiatives to provide specialized training for young musicians. It reflects a broader trend of regional youth ensembles bridging the gap between school curriculum and professional-style ensemble experiences.
Families and local residents can support youth development by attending public performances held by the regional wind symphony. Accessing these programs requires student-musicians to maintain high standards of preparation for the intensive short-session format.
The takeaway
Student musicians benefit from these intensive opportunities by engaging with challenging repertoire outside their school setting. Families interested in such programs should emphasize the necessity of advanced preparation for their young instrumentalists.
Further reading
Discover more about local performances on the Rochester Classical page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fingerlakes1.
