The Upper School Symphony and Chamber Orchestra performed in the Spring Instrumental Concert in Rugby Auditorium on May 1. The concert featured the pieces “Romance for 6 Hands,” “Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 3, Op 108 Allegro & Adagio,” “Pictures at an Exhibition,” “Brook Green Suite” and two concert pieces from the film “Angela’s Ashes.”
Performing Arts Teacher Neli Nikolaeva said that this concert was especially memorable because she was saying farewell to many students she had taught since they were at the middle school.
“The theme for the spring concert is always celebrating this commitment and artistry of the seniors who’ve been with us for many years,” said Nikolaeva. “A lot of these seniors were students I had since my very first year as a teacher, when I was teaching them in seventh grade, in Beginning Strings and Concert Strings. So it was a very special goodbye for us, as a final concert.”
Chamber violinist Alexia Aridi ’25 said that she appreciated the friendships she formed during her time working with other students in Chamber.
“The most meaningful part was the friendships I built during rehearsals,” Aridi said. “Working closely with classmates toward a shared goal created a strong sense of camaraderie. This performance was especially meaningful because it marked our final time on stage together as seniors. Everyone was more sentimental, especially Nikolaeva, and knowing it was our last performance added a layer of emotion that made the experience memorable.”
Symphony violinist Katie Wang ’27 said that she enjoys playing in the symphony because how instruments can create a collective harmony.
“I really like how the violin sounds, and I love symphony because I get to play it,” said Wang. “My favorite part of the concert was hearing different instruments and how they sounded in the piece.”
Chamber violist Kyle Henderson ’27 said he values the community and the experiences that come through his relationships with juniors and seniors.
“My favorite part of prepping is being in a community of kindness and fun,” said Henderson. “I also enjoy meeting new people I might not have known otherwise.”
Nikolaeva said that the short amount of time that the orchestra had to prepare made it difficult to practice and perfect their pieces, but the end result was rewarding for the entire orchestra.
“The repertoire was really exciting and wonderful, but the challenge was having very little time after we came back from a tour during spring break to prepare a brand new repertoire,” Nikolaeva said. “That was exciting yet challenging in its own way, and the students did an amazing job just coming together.”
