With chorus and band having already performed, the Williamsville East orchestra concert occurred on October 27th at 7 pm in the auditorium, wrapping up the 2022-2023 fall concert season. After weeks of preparation, dedication, and hard work, the Philharmonic and Symphonic Orchestras put on an unforgettable performance that left the audience speechless and with goosebumps. Consisting of two large orchestra groups as well as several quartets, music spontaneously flowed from the stage to the crowd throughout the entire night. Directed by Ms. Anneke Ieda herself, it is safe to say that this concert was an undeniable success.
The orchestra concert started with the performance of two quartet groups: Emma Wu, Ava Kazmierczak, Spandana Cheruvu, and Zoey Tang performed Quartet Op. 76 No. 2 “Quinten” composed by F.J. Hayden, and Simon Li, Ethan Miller, Mrs. Ieda, and Arjun Pindiprolu played Quartet No. 17 in Bb “The Hunt” K. 478, penned by Mozart. Both parties prepared individually and together for countless hours and put on a spectacular show for the audience. Needless to say, they were a flawless start to this memorable night.
Philharmonic Orchestra then took the reins and performed “This is Halloween” from the iconic movie “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Waltz” from Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty,” and “Warrior Legacy,” penned by Soon Hee Newbold. “This Is Halloween” was vibrant and set the mood for Halloween, and included a solo by concertmaster Rouaa Elmoudi. “Waltz” was smooth and articulate, and the spontaneous flow of music filled the auditorium. Nonetheless, “Warrior Legacy” was upbeat and lively–it brought energy to the room and was ADJ. Congratulations to our soloists, Rouaa Elmoudi, Armita Rohani, Evania Ernest, Avery Keenan, Aaron Loehle, Senuthi Kahandawalaarachchi, and Samuel Walsh, for your hard work and outstanding performance.
Three more quartet groups performed after: Gary Yang, Sophia Chung, Amber Ren, Kate Powell, Gouri Nadarajan, and Zoey Tang played “Divermentino” in F major K. 138, Grace Wang, Selena Han, Sienna Solazzo, and Max Wang performed “Quartet” in C Major K. 157, and finally, Eric Yang, Yoongyu Heo, Katia Ambarchian, and Danielle Guo displayed “Death and the Maiden” and concluded the quartets for this concert. These groups played beautifully, and every measure was impeccable.
The concert concluded with the Symphonic Orchestra’s performance, as they played “Variations on a Theme by Tchaikovsky,” which was smooth and was composed of diverse movements, Hebrides Overture “Fingal’s Cave,” and the audience favorite, Medley from “The Empire Strikes Back.” It is without a doubt that Symphonic’s display of the most iconic Star Wars theme was beloved by the audience members and completely redefined the atmosphere of the auditorium. “It was an incredible performance and the Star Wars medley was fantastic. It was epic and absolutely legendary; a great end to the night!” Not only was this piece exciting, but it also captivated everyone who heard it: “I closed my eyes during Star Wars and I was transported. It was stellar and an absolute big whoop whoop.” The music was performed flawlessly; people were absolutely shocked and had goosebumps from this song alone. Needless to say, Symphonic’s execution of their pieces was incredible, and they presented a legendary final piece that was a perfect conclusion for this concert.
It is without a doubt that East’s orchestras put on a show that turned their hard work, dedication, and effort into music. This talented group of individuals not only learned how to play a number of difficult pieces, but also juggled school life and the pressure of performing on stage. The tension, excitement, and nervousness were very real, but the orchestras still pulled through and enjoyed the entire ride. “The energy backstage before the concert was unbelievable and so memorable. We were laughing and just enjoying ourselves, and I think that moment for me was unforgettable.” The thrill was not only present moments before the concert, but throughout the day as well. “I think we sound pretty good; we’ve made a lot of progress and the pieces sound great. I can’t wait for the first concert of the year.” 41 Philharmonic and 56 Symphonic students (including winds) worked tremendously hard to perfect their pieces and prepare for this concert. Without the guidance, encouragement, and talent of Ms. Ieda, this concert would not have been possible. The performances that these groups displayed that night were phenomenal, and East can not wait to see what more you can accomplish.
Thank you to Symphonic’s officers: Danielle Guo, Yoongyu Heo, Ethan Miller, Simon Li, Gouri Nadarajan, Emma Wu, and Amber Ren as well as philharmonic’s officers: Grace Kaiser, Sam Walsh, Jonah King, Devon Ruddock and Armita Rohani for all that you do for orchestra. To East’s faculty, staff, principal, and vice principals, thank you for making this concert happen. To stage crew, for letting the night run smoothly and to the members of the music boosters for supporting our students. Thank you Ms. Ieda, for making orchestra fun and for always encouraging your students to play to the best of their abilities.
