MUSCATINE, Iowa — Central Middle School eighth-grader Daniel Fillmore has secured an honor he didn’t know existed.

 He is the first middle school student in the Muscatine Community School District to be selected to play with the Junior All-State Honors Orchestra in the Fisher Theatre at Iowa State University next month.

He was surprised when he learned he’d been selected for the orchestra.

“I never heard of it before,” he said.

Fillmore’s teacher, Jessica Blanchard, the District’s middle school orchestra director, said Iowa orchestra instructors  nominate hundreds of  middle school students for the honor each year and only about 20 make the cut.

Blanchard, who also teaches at McKinley and Madison elementary schools, said the selection committee picks players based, in part, on their strong and weak points and what music they’re playing. 

 The orchestra will perform Friday, Nov. 20, during the Iowa Music Educators Association conference, said Blanchard.

Daniel, who began playing the cello when he was 10, said he has received music for Mozart’s “Symphony 29,” and the piece, “A Suite for Strings,” to practice for the conference.

Daniel has four brothers and sisters ranging in age from 7-28, and he said all but one plays a musical instrument.

“It looked very fun,” said Daniel, recalling his decision to take up an instrument.

Although his father, Brent, doesn’t play an instrument, his mother, Yvonne, does, and his family enjoys making music together, said Daniel.

“I try to practice every day,” said Daniel. “If I get really good, I might try to learn another stringed instrument.”