On Monday September 15, the orchestra department has its annual Fall Festival Concert. Each orchestra is taught and directed by Elliott Lentz.
“Overall the ensembles have been working hard and making strong improvements,” Lentz said. “As always at the beginning of the year we’re all working to get back into the swing of school life but I see great promise in the groups this year.”
The freshman Concert Orchestra, Festival Orchestra and Symphony Advanced Orchestra will all perform a series of pieces.. The Advanced Middle School Orchestra, a culmination of all the Washington Township middle schools, will perform as well.
“This is one of the few times the middle school students see and hear the high school ensembles,” Lentz said. “It helps give the middle schoolers some motivation to continue playing and stay in the program once they get to North Central. It’s a nice chance for everyone to mesh as musicians in Washington Township.”
The middle school students will join Festival Orchestra during their daily rehearsals periods six and seven. The orchestra will listen and support the middle schoolers as they rehearse.
“It’s a lot of fun working with the middle schoolers,” cellist Brea Knapp said. “It’s cool to see the possible incoming freshmen and all the room they have to grow.”
Orchestra is a performing arts credit ranging in difficulty from intermediate to International Baccalaureate levels.
“Unlike other classes, everyone’s performance “success” depends on each person in the group,” Lentz said. “The teamwork needed to achieve a great performance is one of the most important things for students to learn. We focus on being selfless not selfish so we can create great music together.”
The environment extends beyond just music for the students. Senior Timothy Cunningham plays for Symphony Advanced Orchestra as a violinist. He shared his thoughts on orchestras’ impacts on him outside of the classroom and performances.
“Orchestra has taught me to be a leader,” Cunningham said. “It’s also taught me to work well together with other people and blend to create a good product.”
Each orchestra has prepared 2 to 3 pieces to perform.
“I think this will arguably be the best opening performance I will have participated in with my 3 years being a part of Symphony Orchestra” Cunningham said. “My favorite piece that we’re playing is called Argent Edge [composed by Doug Spata]. I think it really brings out our strengths as an ensemble “
The Symphony orchestra’s performance will follow the middle schoolers, the freshman, and Festival orchestra.
“I’m excited even though I’m not a fan of the pieces we’re playing.” Knapp said “It’s nice that we’re playing a different variety of music.”
Junior Moira Mackintosh talked about orchestra’s impact on her.
“I’ve met some really good people,“ Mackintosh said. “I’ve also learned to have a good work ethic.”
The fall festival concert kicks off the season of performances for the orchestra department. Lentz looks forward to what the year will bring.
“So far the connections being made in rehearsal are very promising,” Lentz said. “which helps to work as a group. The ensembles have shown great improvement so far and I’m confident we can continue this upward trend and have an incredible year.”
