The Upper School Symphony and Chamber Orchestra performed the Fall Instrumental Concert in Rugby Auditorium on Nov. 14. Over 90 students performed in the concert, featuring full ensemble pieces such as “Nabucco” by Giuseppe Verdi and violin solos such as “Violin Concerto in E minor” by Mendelssohn.
Performing Arts teacher Neli Nikolaeva said the Upper School Symphony has grown as an ensemble, performing its pieces with greater strength.
“Growth is never a straight line,” Nikolaeva said. “ [Progress has] so many paths and so many experiments. Everyone’s growth is so special and different, but as a group, we are performing stronger.”
Nikolaeva said she has noticed guidance from the seniors towards the sophomores.
“Two of my students, Maya Namba [’26] and Lawrence Zhao [’28], were talking about how [Zhao] felt adopted by [Namba], and how [Namba] just felt so special,” Nikolaeva said. “That’s what [Symphony is] about. It’s the mentorship between students and different ages and the community of multiple levels and stages of experience.”
Symphony flutist Yiya Gu ’28 said she was excited for her first Upper School Symphony concert after rehearsing with the upperclassmen and learning new tips for performing.
“I’m really excited about the different experience and how we are going to sound as a group with upperclassmen,” Gu said. “They’ve taught me new habits like marking dynamics and adding more notes on my sheet music.”
Chamber Orchestra cellist Robby Louie ’26 said he first joined the school instrumental program in seventh grade and has grown since then.
“My seventhgrade fall concert was my first ever orchestra concert, and I remember being nervous and not really knowing what to expect,” Louie said. “Today, I’m much more confident during performances.”
Louie said he will miss his stand partner, Nikhil Sarvaiya ’26, after learning how to blend their music over many years of being paired together.
“We’ve been stand partners for years now, and we’ve learned how to match our sounds so that they complement each other,” Louie said. “[Sarvaiya] is also one of my closest friends outside of orchestra, so we always have a ton of fun at each concert. We even developed our own coded form of communication, as if we made our own secret society.”
Symphony violinist Abby Juarez ’26 said she’s happy for all the memories she’s been able to make since being a part of the instrumental program.
“It makes me happy that I played for so long,” Juarez said. “I’ve had a lot of memories with symphony, so it’s a great way to close this chapter in my life.”
