Schaumburg High School’s Fall Orchestra Concert on Oct. 8 marked the start of a year that will demand focus, practice, and steady improvement from every ensemble. Students spent around nine weeks preparing for the performance, beginning with sight-reading and basic concert routines before tackling full pieces. The concert showed how much effort students must invest long before they ever step on stage.
Mrs. Carlson explained that one of the hardest parts of rehearsal is simply keeping progress consistent: “We focus on repetition until it becomes second nature.”
The fall performance gave students a taste of what’s expected as the year gets harder. They worked through a mix of classical, contemporary, and Halloween-themed pieces, including Ghosts of Agincourt, Spider Dance, Phantom of the Opera, and ABBA selections. For many musicians, it was their first chance to adjust to high school-level pacing, responsibility, and teamwork. The combined performance with Frost and Lincoln Prairie eighth graders also reminded students that each concert builds toward greater musical maturity.
Now that the fall concert is finished, the orchestra is already shifting its attention toward the December performance—a concert that will require even more precision and unity. Mrs. Carlson said that each ensemble has its own goals moving forward: freshmen will continue strengthening fundamentals, while the upper groups will take on more advanced technique and interpretation. With fewer weeks available and more challenging music ahead, the workload will increase. Students are expected to apply what they learned during the fall preparation period—especially consistency, focus, and collaboration.
The upcoming winter concert, held on Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. in the SHS auditorium, will feature Beethoven’s Creatures of Prometheus, Polar Express, and Sleigh Ride. These pieces demand tighter ensemble playing, stronger stylistic awareness, and more confidence from every section.
After seeing how much the orchestra grew during the first nine weeks, both students and directors are looking forward to showing even greater improvement in December. This next concert won’t just be another performance—it will be proof of how much work the musicians have put in since the very first rehearsal of the year.