Columbia River student earns trip to D.C. for music program

Lake Shore — Symphony Koss, 16, spent part of her summer in Washington, D.C., after earning a a full scholarship to attend the National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute at the John F. Kennedy Center. She was one of 60 musicians picked to attend the four-week program. Koss, a violinist, and the other musicians had to prepare a new program in two weeks and then perform it at the Kennedy Center. The musicians participated in private lessons taught by National Symphony Orchestra members, master classes and seminars conducted by internationally-renowned musicians, daily orchestra rehearsals and chamber music coaching. One day, Koss and her chamber group were invited to perform in the Kennedy Caucus Room of the Russell Senate Office Building. After the group’s performance, they ran into Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vermont, in the basement, and posed for a picture with him.