Although BSM’s orchestra program is small, it has a big impact on the community and the students who participate. The BSM orchestra meets on even period days during sixth hour. During this class seventh to twelfth grade students learn and practice new music pieces together. Among the eleven students there is violin, viola, cello and bass played.

Chmielewski recently graduated from St. Olaf, studying music and theology. She sings and plays clarinet, bass, guitar, upright bass and sings. This is Chmielewski’s second year teaching at BSM. She started off as a long term theology substitute teacher in 2020 and is now teaching choir, orchestra and recently took over the role of NHS director.

Chmielewski has had a passion for music her whole life. When she was in high school she really started taking music seriously. “My choir teacher and my orchestra teacher were the best teachers I ever had…they made me realize that I wanted to do music as a career and through a lot of soul searching and singing with ensembles, I realized choir was my true passion and orchestra was something I also enjoyed,” Chmielewski said.

Many students join choir, band or orchestra to fulfill requirements; however, all of the students in the BSM orchestra chose to be a part of it. “Seeing the passion for string instruments at an age earlier than when I realized I was passionate about it is definitely my favorite part about being an orchestra teacher and because it is a choice that people are in the class, the passion is really clear,” Chmielewski said.

The BSM orchestra performed last on December 15th at their annual Christmas concert. “We are performing this coming May along with the choir concert and played music during mass on Ash Wednesday,” Chmielewski said.

Ninth grader Samantha Rude joined the BSM orchestra her seventh grade year in 2019 after having played orchestra since the fourth grade. Rude plays the string bass in the orchestra and has played the bass guitar in jazz band. “Ms. Chmielewski, the director, is very nice and a great teacher to have; it is somewhat a small class with just seven students which makes the class more laid back and fun,” Rude said.

Oftentimes the orchestra will perform during all school masses; however, because of the small size, it can be difficult to play in such a large crowd with so few instruments which can make the music hard to hear.. “Being that I am the only bassist in the orchestra, it is really difficult for people to hear me when we perform, which can sometimes be frustrating,” Rude said.