MCHS Orchestra rings in the holiday spirit with an extraordinary performance

By Kaelie Macaulay

Staff Writer

Stylized by the warmth and joy of the Christmas spirit, Mira Costa’s grammy-award-winning Orchestra debuted their annual Winter Concert on December 2nd, conducted by Peter Park.

Truly embracing the essence of the holiday season,  the Orchestra manifests their prodigious musical gifts to the stage to exhibit their expertise of their craft. Initiating the holiday celebrations with their expressive, operatic rendering of classical tunes, the MCHS Orchestra upholds their prestigious reputation.

The annual Winter Concert occurred from 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm, with baked goods and other supplies sold to benefit the Orchestra funds. Tickets priced at $10 for adults and it was free for students and children.

The concert was composed of three separate Orchestras; Philharmonic, Chamber, and Symphony. each faction performed two songs, the first having numerous parts. The Philharmonic consisting of violins, violas, violoncellos, and the double basses. The Chamber Orchestra is a limited group of violinists, violists, violoncellist, and double bassists. Finalizing the performance, the Symphony Orchestra is composed of a host of woodwinds and strings.

Photos: Director, Peter Park, aids the performance along beautifully demonstrating his mastery in his craft. Always maintaining tempo, the Mira Costa Orchestra never failed to impress with Park’s clever song selection.

Housed in the Mira Costa Auditorium, the vibrant sounds of the strings transcended throughout the venue, reaching all the way to the final row. The impeccable sound quality of the venue accentuated the harmonious tones produced by the strings.  A  vibrant, rhythmic atmosphere was created through the dignified tremors of the bass drum that circulated throughout the hall.

Elegantly beginning the spectacle, the Philharmonic Orchestra performed “Capriol Suite” by Peter Warlock, opening the concert with an alluring translation of an exemplar piece. The vigorous timbre of the strings rose above all expectations and demonstrates virtue and merit.

Tactfully intertwining the performances from all three Orchestras, the ensemble was not inundated with holiday melodies. The opening classical ballads of each Orchestra emphasized the traditional and elegant tunes of the holiday times. At the closure of each respective performance, an effervescent Christmas song was performed.

Director, Peter Park, aids the performance along beautifully demonstrating his mastery in his craft. Always maintaining tempo, the Mira Costa Orchestra never failed to impress with Park’s clever song selection. Video by Kaelie Macaulay.

The Chamber Orchestra, a close-knit group of musicians, attained the attention of the audience by impressing with the various tempos of the pieces. Performing intermediately, the Chamber Orchestra awed with their smooth yet vivid pieces.

With an array of instrumentals, the Symphonic Orchestra concluded the show with immense integrity while adding a holiday flare. The superlative inclusion of percussion added a multidimensional aspect to the performance. The addition of woodwinds aided the melody along with their polished, tranquil vibrations.

As a whole, the annual rendition of Mira Costa’s Winter Concert never failed to impress with it’s symphonic commencement of the holiday season. With its varying tempos, clever song arrangement and stunning acoustics, the Mira Costa Orchestra opens the holiday season with a bang.