![Setter Emma Lee (9) sets the ball to the middle during the match against Pinewood on Sept. 12. “[I’m looking forward to] getting more skilled, learning more about my position and also becoming better friends with all of my teammates, Emma said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSC_4917-2-1200x795.jpg)
![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasnt been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but Ive had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. Theres so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesnt exist, you can build it yourself, Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“Animation just clicked in a way. I had been interested in art, but that felt different. [Animation] felt like it had something behind it, whereas previous things felt surface level. I wasnt making that crazy of things, but just the process of doing it was much more enjoyable, Carter Chadwick (22) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-16-at-9.44.08-AM-900x598.png)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and its played such a major role in who Ive become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something Im [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala (21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“Im not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that theres a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyones so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you arent going to get those championships if you arent fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
Harker’s instrumental groups perform in annual winter concert at Mexican Heritage theater
Rishabh Jain plays a saxophone solo in the Upper School Jazz band’s piece “Spain.”
The Upper School orchestra, Jazz Band, Lab Band, the Middle School orchestras, Middle School chamber groups, and the Middle School Jazz Band performed in the annual Winter Concert at the Mexican Heritage Theater on Jan. 16.
The Winter Concert marked the first concert of the year for these performing arts groups. In order to prepare for this concert, performers rehearsed in sectional groups with their respective instrumental separations.
“I’m the most excited because this is the first concert of my senior year,” said Vishal Vaidya (12), before the concert. “I think this is the best sounding group that we’ve had in the four years that I’ve been here.”
First, the Lab band, led by Dr. Hart played Caravan, Groove Merchant, Bernie’s Tune, and Aim High. Mr. Florio then led the Upper School Jazz band in playing Spain, Sitka Shuffle, and then I Just Called to Say I Love You and Skylark with vocalist Julia Wang, who is also a member of the Upper School Orchestra.
Following an intermission, the Upper School Orchestra performed La Forza Del Destino by Giuseppe Verdi, Antonín Dvorák’s New World Symphony and Bernstein’s Profanation.
The pieces played this year by the Upper School Orchestra were overall more difficult than songs played in years past, with constantly changing time signatures and very high and low notes.
“The hardest part [of learning the pieces] was the flat out difficulty level,” said Mr. Florio, conductor of the Upper School
Orchestra and the Upper School Jazz band.
There was over an hour’s worth of music that was all professional level, very complex and difficult music. It was just a huge challenge.
— Chris Florio
The students were able to learn and perform the complex pieces despite the initial troubles.
“The most memorable part of learning the music was when I first got the music, and there was this moment of ‘What am I going to do?’” clarinet player Jessica Skinner (9) said. “Now, I learned that I can actually play it, so that’s a good thing.”
Audience members, students and conductors alike were very pleased with the turnout and results of the concert.
“It was amazing. It was the best outcome I could’ve asked for.” Mr. Florio said. “For the first time in my career I walked away sure that we did the absolute best that we could.”
This piece was originally published in the pages of The Winged Post on January 28, 2015.
Ayushi Gautam (12) is the Managing Editor of Harker Aquila. She has been a part of the journalism program since her freshman year. She was the Social Media...
Lauren Russell (10) is a reporter in her second year on staff for the Winged Post. After joining the staff for freshman year, she looks forward to continuing...
