Spring orchestra concert celebrates departing seniors in last performance

Orchestra director Jaco Wong conducts during Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D Major. Wong congratulated and gave a short speech about each of the seniors at the end of the concert.

Orchestra members performed in their last concert of the year at the Spring Orchestra Concert on April 23 in the Patil Theater.

Before the last piece, orchestra director Jaco Wong took a moment to honor each of the graduating seniors. Juniors and underclassmen brought them gifts like flowers and signed tote bags onstage while Wong talked briefly about each senior. In his speech introducing the senior class, Wong recapped their spring instrumental trip and emphasized his connection to the graduating class.

“We had an amazing trip this year to Los Angeles, played at Royce Hall, which was Dr. Hart’s alma mater,” Wong said. “Many of these students I’ve taught since they were in middle school. Now, with our last piece, we say farewell to this amazing group.”

Orchestra director Jaco Wong conducts during Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major. Wong congratulated and gave a short speech about each of the seniors at the end of the concert. (Cynthia Xie)

Senior concertmaster George Yang closes his eyes as he plays Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Violin Concerto in D Major." George was one of three winners of the senior concerto competition.

The orchestra opened the concert with Leonard Bernstein’s “Overture to Candide,” a high-energy piece with prominent brass and percussion interjections. Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Symphony No. 2 in E Minor” followed, featuring one of Rachmaninoff’s most celebrated romantic melodies, initially played by the violins and clarinets. The symphony was written to celebrate the composer’s success in overcoming his depression.

Senior concertmaster and violinist George Yang soloed in Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Violin Concerto in D Major” as one of three winners of the Senior Concerto Competition. Chosen from a panel of judges, the seniors perform their concerto accompanied by the rest of the orchestra, at either the winter, chamber or spring concert.

“I was really nervous at first, but after rehearsing it a lot with the orchestra, I felt way more comfortable,” George said. “The concert went really well. A lot of pieces were the best that we’ve ever played, and I had a lot of fun with my friends.”

Senior concertmaster George Yang closes his eyes as he plays Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Violin Concerto in D Major.” George was one of three winners of the senior concerto competition. (Cynthia Xie)

Violinist Hanz Baek (11) draws his bow across the strings as he plays Holst's "Jupiter." The piece is a part of a seven-movement suite called "The Planets."

In the second half of the concert, many pieces revolved around a theme of celestial objects. Principal violist Keira Chang (12) introduced Missy Mazzoli’s “Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres),” discussing how its name referred to the hurdy gurdy, a medieval string instrument with a distinct buzzing sound Mazzoli attempted to incorporate throughout the piece.

The orchestra then performed Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity,” the most famous movement from the seven-movement orchestral suite “The Planets.” Holst sought to incorporate astrological characteristics of the planets in each of the movements, infusing Jupiter’s piece with a sense of nobility and optimism.

Violinist Hanz Baek (11) draws his bow across the strings as he plays Holst’s “Jupiter.” The piece is a part of a seven-movement suite called “The Planets.” (Cynthia Xie)

Junior double bassist Vova Shchegrov rests his bow on his sheet music for Mazzoli’s “Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres)." A sinfonia is also known as a hurdy gurdy, a medieval instrument.

The orchestra ended the concert with Sergei Prokofiev’s “Symphony No. 5,” a triumphant and hopeful piece featuring dissonant melodies. After playing in his last concert, George commented on how orchestra has impacted his high school years.

“I’m a little sad because I’ve made so many friends over these four years, but I think I’m looking towards new beginnings as well,” George said. “I’m definitely going to continue with orchestra because this whole process was so inspiring to me.”

Junior double bassist Vova Shchegrov rests his bow on his sheet music for Mazzoli’s “Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres).” A sinfonia is also known as a hurdy gurdy, a medieval instrument. (Cynthia Xie)

Seniors cheer on their friends in the audience. "It doesn't feel real that this is the last one and it’s senior year," Charlotte said.

Audience member Charlotte Ludlow (12) attended the concert to support her friends seniors flutist Sophia Bagley and violist Simon Kirjner. She reflected on the bittersweet emotions of the last concert, making it even more important to cheer on her performing arts peers by making posters.

“The concert was great, and it’s super impressive that we have such a good orchestra. All the solos were really good,” Charlotte said. “It doesn’t feel real that this is the last one and it’s senior year. It’s crazy that it’s all ending, but it’s been nice to see everyone’s growth.”

Seniors cheer on their friends in the audience. “It doesn’t feel real that this is the last one and it’s senior year,” Charlotte said. (Cynthia Xie)

Harker Aquila

Harker Aquila

Harker Aquila

Spring orchestra concert celebrates departing seniors in last performance

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