At the very end of the West High music hall, 53 students tuned their instruments. It was barely 9 a.m., the start of first period, but orchestra director Gabrielle Whitfield kept the energy high — paying special attention to the last few rows.
“It’s kind of the easiest place to hide, but can be the secret weapon if you know how to use it, right?” she said. “Okay, share, especially if you’re in the last row.”
Whitfield waved her baton and the room filled with the swell of music. The familiar sounds of cellos, basses and violins resonated through the space. But nestled somewhere between the different melodies, two violins and a viola stood out. All three are much higher quality than the typical school-issued instruments. A local 26-year-old surgical technician and member of the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, Christian Johnson, provided the classroom additions on long-term loan…