![LALC Vice President of External Affairs Raeanne Li (11) explains the International Phonetic Alphabet to attendees. "We decided to have more fun topics this year instead of just talking about the same things every year so our older members can also [enjoy],” Raeanne said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_4627-1200x795.jpg)
![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“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 it's played such a major role in who I've 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 I'm [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)
![“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)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't 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)
![“[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)
![“I'm 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 there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's 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)
Orchestra performs at Carnegie Hall
Orchestra conductor Chris Florio conducts the orchestra during the annual Winter Concert. The orchestra is currently in New York for their performance at Carnegie Hall.
March 28, 2017
The upper school orchestra traveled to New York for their first performance at Carnegie Hall from March 24 to 29. They premiered two performances; a public informal performance at the Liberty Science Center and a formal concert at Carnegie Hall.
Christopher Florio, the upper school orchestra director and instrumental music teacher, had been preparing for this trip for two years, while the orchestra group began their preparation at the beginning of this semester.
“Pressurized is probably the most suitable word for us, because we have to practice more for these more challenging pieces. I have say these pieces are much harder than the first semester pieces, for every instrument,” clarinetist Emma Li (9) said.
The orchestra played Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition,” which featured a trumpet solo; Kabalevsky’s “Colas Breugnon” and John Williams’s “Cowboys Overture.” They were also debuting a piece by John Carnahan, a composer-in-residence, called “Les Bourgeon Du Printemps.”
Besides performing at Carnegie Hall, the orchestra also toured around New York City, visiting the Statue of Liberty and viewing the broadway show “Anastasia.” Additionally, seniors told stories about their best memories in orchestra at their banquet at the Redeye Grill.
“We will be doing some clinics with some guests conductors, including a composer who has composed a piece that we’re premiering. We’re also doing a group banquet dinner. We’ve rented out a room in a restaurant down the street from the hotel. . .” Florio said. “Then, we’re going on a dinner cruise with all the other groups that are performing. The last day is all Carnegie Hall.”
Co-concertmaster May Gao (12) reflected on her thoughts following their concert. She credited the entire orchestra for their hard work, including Mr. Florio and the orchestra alumni.
“I feel mostly relief after a concert, because you have so much tension built up over a performance. Once you’re done, you realize you’ve done an amazing job or that it’s the best you could’ve done. It’s just a very relieving feeling,” May said. “I feel like after performances, everyone just feels really proud, especially because it is not only just the work we’ve put in, but also the work Mr. Florio has put in the program in the last 12 years. It’s not only a performance of us, but a performance for the musicians who came before us.”
This version of this piece originally published in the pages of The Winged Post on March 28, 2017, incorrectly stated that graduating seniors were unable to attend the trip to Carnegie Hall. This correction has been made and the Harker Journalism staff regrets this mistake.
