Band, orchestra perform at annual concert

By Teah Harris

Staff Writer

The Music Department held a festival concert in the auditorium on March 17 at 7 p.m., including orchestra and band. 

The orchestra festival took place on March 21. Each piece in this performance was featured in the March 17 concert. 

“My favorite part of performing is seeing all of our efforts actualize into something special and sharing that with my friends,” said senior violinist Ryan Bui. 

The event started off with “Shalom Chavarim,” an Israeli folk song, with guest conductor Nivram Castro, a teaching student at UCLA. 

“I decided to watch this orchestra performance because I have heard around school people talking about how great they are, so I wanted to see for myself,” said senior Margaux Greely. “I was not disappointed when I arrived; their execution was like no other.” 

The symphonic band played both “A Huntingdon Celebration,” by Philip Sparke, and “Cajun Folk Songs,” by Frank Tichelli. According to Bui, they dedicated an immense amount of time in order to give their audience a performance of a lifetime. 

“I would love to see another performance because as a cheerleader I know what hard work looks like, and these musicians definitely showed that,” said Greely. “ I will definitely be showing up at the next event to support my fellow student body.”

The wind symphony performed “Dance Movements,” by Phillip Sparke, and “Vientos y Tangos,” by Michael Gandolfi. The group played in harmony, producing beautiful music that filled the auditorium with parents and friends nodding their heads in approval of the beautiful tunes produced, according to junior violinist Charles Hiatt.

“It was an honor to play with so many talented musicians,” said Hiatt. “I was blown away by the level of the performance. It was truly an emotional experience.”

The final groups were wind ensemble and symphony orchestra. Their final song was “Symphony No. 2 in B minor,” by Alexander Borodin. 

“The music transformed me and took me to another place,” said Greely. “I felt connected in a way and had a great time sitting back watching all the cool instruments be played.”