When the crowd goes quiet and the music begins, eyes and ears focus on the stage, and the stage alone, only enjoying the music. The audience sees instruments and hears melodies, but behind every powerful performance is a group of students who spend countless hours perfecting every note, rhythm, and cue.
The orchestra is the heartbeat of the music program, despite what people say about the band, turning pages of sheet music into something the audience can feel.
These students practice for hours each week, balancing school work, sports, and other activities while dedicating themselves to their instrument. They rehearse during school, over the weekends, and even after school, ensuring the piece is perfected. They put in effort that few outside the program ever see.
Beyond the music, orchestra teaches teamwork, discipline, and a lot of trial and error. Students must rely on each other to keep time, stay in tune, and bring emotion into their playing.
“From a standpoint of a violin, without the violas, bass, and cellos, there wouldn’t be any background noise imagery. The bass really starts off how the melody’s gonna go, and the tempo we go by, since the violins go off of the other instruments. We’re the lead, but without the background, people wouldn’t have a good music piece,” said sophomore Gabriel Massey, a violin player.
That sense of unity is what makes the orchestra special. Each instrument adds its own bit to the music. On their own, the sounds may seem simple. Together, they form something far greater.
From the first warm-up note to the final bow, they prove that harmony doesn’t just happen – it’s built, practiced, and shared with every measure of music. And when the final note fades and the crowd erupts in applause, those countless hours of work turn into something unforgettable.
Our orchestra experienced that this past Tuesday with its annual Spooktacular concert.
