Jose Carrión How much can you do in four weeks?

If you're bassist Jose Carrión, plenty.

During his four- week residency with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, DC, this summer, Carrion performed with the orchestra under the direction of conductor Marcelo Lehninger and with the NSO Summer Music Institute orchestra. He conducted the Summer Music Institute orchestra in Beethoven's complete Fifth Symphony, had lessons and received coaching in double bass performance from three different NSO teachers/performers, presented a session on electric instruments (sponsored by the Electric Violin Shop in Greensboro). He also met national organization leaders, conductors, musicians, and staff, participated in master classes and technique sessions, observed numerous rehearsals by the National Symphony, put in his regular hours of daily practice, and attended numerous concerts at the Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap, Carter Barron, and National Mall.

Oh, and he also found time to take in the capital's sites. This was, after all, his vacation.

Carrión — head of Richland Northeast High School's Palmetto Center for the Arts orchestra program, an associate principal with the South Carolina Philharmonic, and a candidate for a Master's in performance at USC — was nominated by the South Carolina Arts Commission and was the only music teacher in the state selected for the program.

"I was able to build my curriculum based on my interests and experience," said Carrión, "so I was extremely fortunate to have all these options."

The Teacher Fellowship is part of the orchestra's Ameri- can Residency program. In addition, Diane Oliva, RNE Class of 2008 and Carrión's student, was one of four South Carolina students who received a scholarship to the Kennedy Center/NSO National Trustees' 2008 Summer Music Institute. Oliva is now a freshman at the North Carolina School of the Arts.