About Us

The Zionsville Community High School Orchestra was started in 1998.  The program began with the inspiration of two parents who felt strongly that Z-Ville needed a string program.  The classes started with 8 students in grades 4-7 in an after-school setting.  Soon the program grew and was placed in the school day.  Mrs. Kathleen Swayze was one of the first instructors at the MS level.  She lead the program until it was time to have students at the HS level.  She continued to teach MS and HS for the program's first HS year.  As the program steadily grew,  Mrs. Swayze was unable to fit both MS and HS classes in her schedule.  In 2004 Mrs. Suzanne Lyons came to Zionsville as the first HS full time string instructor. 

  As Zionsville continued to grow as a community, Zionsville West Middle School was built.  Mrs. Swayze continued to teach full time at ZMS and Mrs. Lyons taught a full day of strings that included classes at ZCHS and ZWMS.  In 2007 the program was big enough to need an additional instructor for ZWMS.  The ZCS String Program now consists of 90 ZMS students under the direction of Mrs. Swayze, approximately 90 ZWMS students under the direction of Mr. Plewa, 90 ZCHS students under the direction of Mrs. Lyons, and the growth is expected to continue.

In the last 5 years the ZCHS Orchestra has started a full orchestra program, developed and after-school Honors Ensemble, has consistently received Gold Division ratings in ISSMA solo/ensemble competitions at district and state levels, performed at the 2007 IMEA Convention as a demonstration group for Leonard Atherton, director of orchestras at Ball State University, hosted two Low String Clinics with two special pieces commissioned for these events, performed for the Butler University String Day, received Gold Ratings at ISSMA District Organizational events and State Qualifying events, and traveled to Austria, Vienna, Germany, New York, and Scotland.