Administration at West Shore has decided to cut down the size of the orchestra and chorus programs by having Mrs. Davis teach three periods of orchestra and three periods of chorus. This is unfair to Mrs. Davis and the students participating in orchestra and chorus.

There is a wealth of accomplished musicians and singers who have participated in the All County and All State ensembles, and have passed their Music Performance Assessments in previous years. This would be taking the opportunity of having an enriching experience in West Shore's music programs. This experience was already diminished by not having a real orchestra classroom and by never having a real strings teacher teaching the orchestra in the last three years I've been here.

Mrs. Davis is an amazing chorus teacher and a wonderful person who doesn't deserve the stress of teaching one more orchestra than she is used to. She taught only two in the 2018-2019 school year, and it was the first time she has ever taught an enemble that was not a chorus. Asking her to teach three orchestras is asking too much of her. The West Shore Music Department is comprised of amazing teachers who love what they do, but they are not equipped to teach strings. We need a teacher who plays a string instrument.

West Shore prides itself on its standard of excellence, but this situation is anything but. This school already faces a decrease in school spirit for many countless reasons. We need something to be proud of other than academics. For the sake of West Shore's Music Department, please sign so that the orchestra and chorus and thrive!