Standout Spartan: Ella Bingham '25

Congratulations to violist Ella Bingham ’25 for earning a spot in the South Central Senior Regional Orchestra (SRO). SRO is a two-day intensive that concludes with a concert that will take place at 2 p.m. on November 11 at Harrisonburg High School.

Ella, who has played the viola since she was in sixth grade, prepared for the audition through independent study by preparing two difficult required etudes, five major scales (three octaves), four melodic minor scales (three octaves), and a sight-reading selection. The competition for these positions in this honor ensemble is very competitive. The Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association's South-Central Region is composed of schools from the entire Richmond metropolitan area plus schools as far south as Blacksburg and as far north as Harrisonburg. 

“I absolutely love the sheer variety of techniques that string instruments can use, but specifically the range and timbre of the viola,” said Ella. “I enjoy pulling out the musicality that orchestral harmony parts have to offer, and I sometimes experiment with other styles, such as fiddling.”