On Nov. 30, 2023, audiences gathered in the auditorium to watch orchestras from LHS and Highland Middle School perform a variety of classical pieces. 

Earlier that day, students from both schools welcomed guest conductor Ms. Daryl Silbermann during rehearsals for the concert.

The first few pieces featured the younger orchestra students, the sixth grade Silver Strings, and freshman Concert Orchestra, conducted by Ms. Silbermann. 

“[The middle-schoolers] are really sweet,” junior Sarah Ding said, “[and having them there] and being in the auditorium gives it a real concert feel.”

The pieces, “Sparkle!” by Kathryn Griesinger and “Crooked Creek,” arranged by Edmund Siennicki, showcased the talent of the young musicians with their more positive melodies.

Concert Orchestra then went on to play a range of music. The first piece, “Danzon” by Leonard Bernstien, featured a violin soloist, freshman Jonas Skinner. 

The third piece, “The Odyssey” by Soon Hee Newbold, was a favorite among the freshmen. It intended to portray the feeling of a journey that is instrumental in “The Odyssey,” the Greek myth the piece was inspired by.

The next groups to perform were the Highland Orchestra, who played one piece, before combining with Symphony Orchestra for a piece called “Serenade” by Norman Leyden. 

The first movement of the piece embodied the feeling of the English countryside before switching to a stronger second movement. Directed by Silbermann, the students rehearsed together for the first time that day.

“Being able to see the middle-schoolers is very nostalgic,” senior Amber Ortega said, “because I was in their shoes, and now I’m a senior.”

Chamber Orchestra, the group with the most experience, then performed, playing a more mellow piece, the four movement “String Quartet No. 11” by Dmitiri Shostakovich. It started out slow and melancholy with the violins before shifting and building into a more suspenseful mood. 

In contrast their next piece, “St Paul’s Suite, I. Jig” by Gustave Holst, was lively and reminiscent of pirates. 

The night ended with pieces played  by Symphony Orchestra, accomp

anied by woodwinds, percussion and brass. The first piece they played was “Slavonic Dance No. 8” by Dvorak. It was followed by “La Favorite Overture” by Gaetano Donizetti.

With its fast tempo and flair for dramatics, “Donizetti”, as the musicians referred to it, was also one of the more difficult pieces to play. Despite this, the orchestra was able to come together and put on a successful performance.

“Although it was my favorite, [Donizetti] was the hardest to learn,” senior Jocelyn Hurh said. “It was in a really high position and we had to play up the octave.”

The concert made a successful end to the semester, showing the improvement that the orchestra’s have made and introducing middle school students to the high school