On Wednesday, December 10th, Schaumburg High School’s music department filled the auditorium with festive sounds during the Winter Orchestra Concert. Featuring performances by the Concert, Philharmonic, and Symphony Orchestras, the evening highlighted the talent, dedication, and hard work of the student musicians.
The Concert Orchestra, composed entirely of freshmen, opened the evening, followed by the Philharmonic—Schaumburg’s middle-level orchestra made up of sophomores through seniors. The Symphony Orchestra, the school’s most advanced group, featured primarily upperclassmen and performed the most challenging repertoire.
All three orchestras learned the combined piece Sleigh Ride, while two of the orchestras performed full orchestra pieces that included winds, brass, and percussion, as opposed to string-only selections.
“My favorite piece I performed at the concert was Sleigh Ride because of how energetic and fun it was,” said Harune Nagaya, a senior at Schaumburg High School. “One piece of advice I could give is to love music. Even in challenging times, I reminded myself how much I love classical music, and that motivated me to keep playing.”
The Concert Orchestra also performed My Candles, a Hanukkah piece praised for its beautiful, meditative melodies. The Philharmonic performed a medley from The Polar Express and Sweet New Moon, working on phrasing, dynamics, and sound.
The Symphony Orchestra closed the evening with an overture by Ludwig van Beethoven, a performance of Fantasia on Greensleeves with harpist collaboration, and a special piece called Celtic Carol performed alongside sophomore ballet dancer Chloe Torices.
“My favorite piece we played at the concert was The Polar Express medley,” shared Mia Jacobson, a junior at Schaumburg High School. “I really enjoyed playing nostalgic pieces; the sense of community in the orchestra is definitely my favorite part. I love being able to hang out with my friends while making music.”
“Fantasia on Greensleeves was so fun to rehearse with the orchestra and harpist. It challenged my flute playing and reminded me of the impact music can have,” said Maya Piorek, a senior at Schaumburg High School.
The concert also emphasized teamwork and musical growth. “Playing in the orchestra has helped me grow as a musician by strengthening my listening skills and understanding how all the smaller parts of a composition mesh together to create the final product,” said Abraham Thomas, a senior at Schaumburg High School. “We prepared by isolating each section and ensuring every part fulfilled its role in the piece.”
“Being part of an orchestra and playing a string instrument is a special experience. It’s incredibly gratifying to see students progress from sight-reading a piece to performing it seven to eight weeks later,” shared Mrs. Carolson, the director of the Orchestra.
The Winter Orchestra Concert not only showcased individual and group talent but also brought the school community together to celebrate the season. Audiences left the auditorium inspired and full of holiday cheer, looking forward to more performances in the coming year.