Nine top-ranked student musicians from two Denver Public Schools high schools - Denver School of the Arts and East High School - will participate in the 18th Annual Western States Honor Orchestra Festival, "Weekend for Strings," Nov. 1-3 in Greeley, Colo.

Sponsored by the University of Northern Colorado, "Weekend for Strings" is an audition-based, invitation-only event that attracts the top student string players from throughout the Western United States. This year, 120 students were selected to participate in the event from the 259 students from 62 high schools who auditioned.

During the three-day event, students receive intensive orchestra training, attend master classes, and perform with renowned soloists and conductors. The Festival culminates in a public concert featuring the 32-member "Weekend for Strings" Chamber Orchestra and the 88-member Symphony Orchestra at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, in the Union Colony Civic Center in Greeley. Tickets for the free concert are available at the door.

Participating in the event from Denver School of the Arts are violinists Valerie Gordon, Julie Hollandsworth, Cosima Luther and Rachel Massey; violists Mackenzie Roberts and Jola Pieslak; cellist Marial Roberts; and bassist Nate Chase.

Participating from East High School is cellist Amy Feinstein. The DSA Orchestra director is Frank Fyock and the East High School Orchestra Director is Keith Oxman.