The Westside Symphonette, West Seattle's youth orchestra, has been awarded a city Department of Neighborhoods Social Justice grant to increase participation in the orchestra by young musicians and to increase its visibility in the community.

"We are delighted to have this opportunity to increase the membership in the orchestra and to increase its service to the entire West Seattle community," said Jorge Morales, the project's coordinator, co-conductor of the orchestra, and orchestra teacher at Denny Middle School and Sealth High School.

The group was awarded $11,880 to be used to purchase music and other supplies and to provide music workshops for school-aged musicians from all over West Seattle. The funds will also allow hiring highly skilled musician/teachers to lead the workshops.

Toni Reineke, the group's current co-conductor, founded the symphonette in the Fall of 2002 to give local students an opportunity to participate in a full symphony orchestra, an opportunity that does not exist in West Seattle schools. There are now two orchestras, senior for the more experienced musicians and junior for beginners. The orchestras present two to three concerts each year. Students come from public and private schools all over the West Seattle area.