Fourth grade Orcas Elementary student Christopher Quintero just started playing violin this school year but already has a strong commitment to learning and enjoying the craft. Strings director Pamela Wright chose Christopher as this month’s Music Student of the Month, explaining, “Christopher is a hard worker. I can tell that he loves to play the violin. I believe that he will go far with this and the discipline of playing will help him in his future with anything! He is so positive and helpful to his classmates which I absolutely love.”
In Christopher’s words, “It’s fun playing and it just feels so good when you finish a song,” he says. “I probably got this award because I try hard and play well. I practice about four times a week.” Christopher was inspired by his older brothers and sister to take up the violin like they did. He explains how music is calming, saying, “you have to relax when playing or it’s going to sound bad. It’s also kind of like a team sport. It’s fun playing with friends and you have to help your friends remember the parts of the song sometimes.”
Congratulations to Christopher Quintero, June 2026 Music Student of the Month!
The Music Student of the Month series recognizes Orcas Island Public School musicians who work hard at their musical skills and whose love of music is an inspiration to their fellow student musicians. Thank you so much to the Orcas Island businesses who are sponsoring this monthly series throughout the 2025-26 school year that recognizes the efforts of student musicians and the value of school music!
–as published in Islands’ Sounder June 2026