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The Wando High School Orchestras delighted the audience with a program of classical favorites like Johann Sebastian Bach's Brandenburg Concerto and Gioacchino Rossini's Barber of Seville, popular selections including Sanseneon and Pirates of the Caribbean, as well as Celtic fiddling.

The director of the school's orchestras is Derek Deakins, who joined Wando last August.

The concert opened with the Chamber Orchestra playing Divertimento No. 2 in D Major, Finale by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

The second piece was Rossini's Overture, The Barber of Seville.

Freshman Ali Smith is the concertmaster of the Concert Orchestra; Caroline Kornegay is the principal second violinist.

Michael Kinslow is principal violist, Alexandra Denton principal cellist; Matthew Shuman, principal Bass.

The Celtic Ensemble, featuring Liz Benson, Christian Pollano, Coleman Sawyer and Ali Smith, played the traditional tune, Queen's Polka. Orchestra director Deakins joined the group for the last part of the piece, impressing the crowd with his fiddling prowess.

The Chamber Orchestra then played Hungarian Dance No. 5 by Johannes Brahms and Pavane Op. 50 by Gabriel Fauré.

Logan Minnix is the concertmaster of the Chamber Orchestra; Liz Benson is the principal of second violins. Griffin Lites is principal of the violas; Danielle Wise is the principal cellist.

Michael House is the principal Bassist.

For the grand finale, both orchestras joined forces to play Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Sanseneon by Robert S. Frost, Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 first movement by Bach and Medley: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl by Badelt.

What made the concert especially appealing was the introduction to each piece by a different student.

Over the course of the evening, orchestra musicians Heather Tully, Michael Sholtens, Juliet Hill, Alexandra Denton, Coleman Sawyer, Ali Smith and Danielle Wise each introduced themselves, the composer of the piece that was about to be played, and what was noteworthy or remarkable about the piece.

The Wando Chamber Orchestra received the highest score of Superior at the SCMEA-sponsored Concert Festival this past March.

Derek Deakins joined Wando High School this year as director of Orchestras.

A fiddler, violinist, and conductor from Kingsport, Tennessee, Deakins graduated from Belmont University where he received a Bachelor's of Music in Music Education.

Since graduating from Belmont University, Deakins has performed for major recording artists such as The Osborne Brothers, Craig Morgan, Tracy Byrd, Andy Griggs, Neil McCoy, and Blake Shelton. His television appearances include Grand Ole Opry Live, Good Morning America, The CBS Early Show, The Jimmy Kimmell Show, and Late Night with Craig Ferguson.

"If I Could Give the World," "The Fiddle,Bluegrass, and Me," and "Double Fiddle Time" are just a few of his professional recordings.

He resides in Mount Pleasant with his wife, Lisa, who also teaches strings in Charleston County.