Since she was in high school, Beverly Hill Intermediate School’s orchestra instructor Leigh Ledford has dreamed of performing at The Midwest Clinic, an internationally prestigious band and orchestra conference.

This December, Ledford’s dreams will finally come true.

The conference held annually in Chicago at the Chicago Hilton, is a five-day educational event designed to bring music directors worldwide in contact with the best-published music, new and established teaching techniques, and the latest products and services for music educators. This year’s conference will be held Dec. 19-23.

“I have always heard so much about the tradition and integrity of this event throughout my career,” Ledford said. “My students are extremely excited. I felt like they would have a fighting chance at this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we would be selling ourselves short not to try. It is truly a dream come true.”

Only 32 performers were invited to this year’s conference. Performing groups include bands, orchestras, jazz ensembles and small ensembles from grade schools, middle schools, high schools, colleges, military, adult and professional groups from around the world. The Beverly Hills Symphony Orchestra was the only intermediate school orchestra invited to perform at the 2006 conference. The group is the most advanced orchestra at Beverly Hills and is a combination of seventh and eighth graders. Fifty of the students will be attending

This type of prestigious recognition doesn’t come without hard work, and Ledford said her students are most deserving. “The established daily routines of the Beverly Hills orchestras are conducive to excellence. Students come early, stay late and little time is ever wasted,” she said. “These students have a strong sense of short and long term goals and their work ethic is admirable. They have a lot of heart and passion that I believe will always serve them well in all of their future endeavors.”

Last year, the conference brought in more than 13,000 people including teachers, conductors, composers and musicians representing all 50 states and more than 30 different countries. Attendance at this year’s conference is expected to be even greater as it’s the event’s 60th anniversary. An orchestra from Canada and two bands from Japan also will be performing this year.

“The Midwest Clinic is considered by many to be the premier instrumental music clinic in the world, and Beverly Hills was invited to play at this conference in recognition of their outstanding musical ability,” said Pasadena ISD’s director of fine arts Linda Fletcher. “They were invited because they are among the best in the country.”

To be selected as a performer, groups must go through an auditioning process. String orchestras must submit an unedited compact disc of the group playing two selections with contrasting historical period, style and tempo, a videotape of the group performing the same music, a completed application and three recommendations from prominent directors who have worked with or heard the group within the last year.

Ledford selected two pieces the symphony orchestra performed at this year’s UIL Solo and Ensemble Competition. Each piece is a grade five, which is the highest level of difficulty and is usually performed by high school orchestras. The group will perform nine or ten selections at the conference, which will include many newly written works.

Ledford said she knows this experience will serve as an educational one. “Possibly my greatest passion as an educator is to prove to students that their success in life has more to do with what is inside of them rather than what is around them. Their work ethic, passion and belief in themselves should never be denied because they feel intimidated by others they perceive as having greater environmental opportunities,” she said. “I believe my students will take life-long lessons of excellence with them from this experience and great memories that will last a lifetime.”

But their time spent in Chicago will not consist of all work and no play. Ledford said she and her students hope to soak in the Museum of Science and Industry, the Art Institute, the Hancock Observatory and the Adler Planetarium to name a few. “And of course we’ll have to enjoy an evening meal of authentic Chicago deepdish pizza,” she added.

“I am elated over this tremendous recognition for our orchestra and for Pasadena ISD,” said Beverly Hills’ principal Stephanie Wright. “Being selected to perform at the Midwest Clinic is the highest honor a performing group can receive. Our program was judged against an international standard before being selected. I am so proud of the students and their countless hours of practice. Ms. Ledford has done a phenomenal job with this program and this honor is so well deserved.”