Gifted Music School with Director Eugene Watanabe

Felix Mendelssohn composed his famous octet for strings when he was sixteen years old. Yet, it is often played by stuffy old codgers in penguin suits—but not today! In this hour talented young musicians from the Gifted Music School of Salt Lake City perform Mendelssohn’s composition and an impressive arrangement of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" for strings.  THE GIFTED MUSIC SCHOOL was founded in 2008 by Eugene Watanabe, and has received recognition and awards from the Salt Lake Community. The musicians in this episode are: Eugene Watanabe (director), Megan Mason (Assistant Conductor), Shenae Anderson, Alden Durham, Rebecca Epperson, Chase Ferry, Kaylee Romrell, Ethan Sherman, Camille Stanley, Will Yavornitzky, Bree Fotheringham, Kana Yoshigi  Follow Highway 89 on twitter @byuH89