Music helps unite people that might not otherwise have reasons to work together as a team. This year, two groups of local teens have that unique opportunity to blend their musical talents on Friday in an effort to impress music instructors from throughout Missouri who are gathering the best musical groups.

At the end of the week, a combined group of Eureka orchestra and band students will head to the Music Educators Association 73rd annual conference in Osage Beach, MO, to be featured performers.  The conference will be held at the Tan-Tar-A resort.

Patti Fleer, Eureka High School's orchestra director and music department chair, said this is a great honor for the students, who were selected by a committee of state music experts, based on demo audition tapes.

Eureka High School family and friends of students in orchestra and band were treated to a special concert Sunday at the high school, which also enabled  the blended symphony orchestra students to practice prior to their upcoming debute Friday.

"Going to the conference to be with other music instructors and getting the chance to hear other student music groups gives us all a chance to recharge our batteries," said John Arata, Eureka band director.

Arata and Stephen Larmore, Eureka orchestra director, will conduct the symphony orchestra Friday, while Fleer remains in an objective role due to her vice presidency status with the statewide organization.

"This gave band members a chance to learn about orchestra literature, and orchestra members a chance to learn band swing," said Arata.

Congratulations to the following students chosen by auditions to play in the 2011 Eureka High School symphony orchestra:

Violin I:  Sabrina Salamone, Lauren Vogel, Mackenzie Schneider, Sara Chesselow, McKenna Brown, Rachel Mydlo, Kathleen Fincher, Cory Taylor, Luke Twombly, James Huang, Mallory Weise, Selina Baner, Emily Buatois, Ethan Brizendine, and Karli McIntyre.

Violin II:  Kaitlyn Alsup, John Tipton, Aisha Uraizee, Haley Upton, Aman Jain, Kyle Kolb, Abigail Goldsby,  Zachary Lubinski, Wolfie Durchholz, Taylor Black, Krishna Neelam, Matthew VanKleeck, Mehya Wheeler, and Brittany Lenhart.

Viola:  Quillan Brown, Ian Davis, Nicole Dean, Josh Rector, Caitlyn Priese, Spencer Kendall, Matt Molengraft, Tim Roach, Brian Klopf, Orion Guan, and Deshon Thomas-Wright.

Cello:  Chelsea Deleon, Matt Spresterbach, Elizabeth Sullivan, Taylor Wilson, Tim Ferrari, Nathaniel Brose, Mary Montgomery, Alyssa O'Neal, Marisa Passiglia, and Savannah Talcott.

Bass: Eric Wickert, Ben Moore, Syd Tockman, Ian Bailey, Ben Rooney, Bain Turnbo, and Dustain Rademacher.

Flute:  Mandy Bultas, Audrey Herrington, Alicia Buness, Lindy McBratney, Jessica Bloomrosen, Cristin Selle, Andrew Whitcomb, and Blake Endsley.

Oboe:  Laura Frederickson, Bryan Haynes, and Anna Merline.

Bassoon: Sam Groeteke, Nick Sample, and Alex Roberds.

Clarinet:  Blake Scoville, Eric Mendelson, Sara Hendershot, Leslie Nicol, Lydia Hoene, Tyler Finck, Caitlin Selle, Michael McKenzie, and Sarah Smith.

Bass Clarinet:  Michael Lydon-Lorson.

Alto Saxophone:  Kristen Voss, Nick Aubrey, Drew Shryock, and Logan Keim.

Tenor Saxophone:  Steven Gardner, Nate Shryock, Lindsey Davis, and Mark Nosiglia.

Trumpet:  Andy Cox, Cameron Schmitz, Christian Frauenhoffer, Brandon Kane, and Ian Blaylock.

Horn:  Dane Roper and Brock Scoville.

Trombone:  Luke Seiler and Ryan Smithson.

Euphonium:  Thomas Sellers.

Tuba:  Keegan Emmert and Eric Salomon.

Percussion:  Matt Conrad, James Peterson, Matt Tucker, Lizzie Roberds, Robert Keough, Matt Fish, Blake Schulte, Braden Donaldson, and Phil Chandler.