By Cate Schiff
Staff Writer
The Mira Costa Orchestra performed in its annual Winter Concert on Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Costa auditorium.
Since this concert was right before the holiday break, the orchestra played classical songs as well as upbeat holiday music.
“This was one of the best winter concerts we have ever had,” violinist sophomore Katherine Spencer said. “The range of music from classical symphony music to sing-along Christmas songs exemplifies the excellence of our orchestra department.”
The students practiced everyday for this concert, often times after school as well.
“We all put in a lot of hard work and practice on a daily basis,” orchestra conductor Peter Park said. “Since Mira Costa has such a strong musical program, we are able to perform difficult and high-quality literature.”
The Chamber Orchestra played the first and fifth movements of “Dvorak Serenade” and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” The Symphony Orchestra played Borodin Symphony No. 2 and the classic holiday song, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
“I enjoyed the songs we played, because the first movement is very strong and powerful, but then the last movement is lighter and happier so it creates a good contrast,” Spencer said.
With the support of Park, the students have learned to perform at a collegiate level.
“Mr. Park has worked extremely hard during rehearsals to help us get to performance level,” Spencer said. “His enthusiasm helps us work harder as students, too. I feel like Mr. Park has prepared us very well and has done a great job.”
Many students who attended the concert believe that the hard work Orchestra put into perfecting their concert paid off.
“I thought the orchestra members did really well at their concert because they were very prepared,” attendee sophomore Scott Miketa said.
Park and the students have put a lot of thought into the pieces that were assigned at the end of last year, according to violinist senior Allie Campbell.
“We got the music for this concert at the end of last year and started preparing as soon as school started,” Campbell said. “Mr. Park really focused on getting the orchestra into the right mood and character.”
To carry out their performances successfully, orchestra members practice with Park during their class periods and after school.
“We practiced playing accurately and together as an orchestra,” Campbell said. “We also worked on having an aggressive tone in the key moments of the piece and contrasting that with a lighter tone in other parts.”
Park purposely made this concert different than the previous performances by making the students step into the character and mood of the pieces of the music in order to ensure that the concert was unique and memorable.
“We want every concert and performance to be unique, not through special effects, but just by the music we present to the audience,” Park said.
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