The 2016-2017 season for the US orchestra has already started. The orchestra is kicking everything off with sections from Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen, which will feature solos from Keyvon Rashidi (principal trumpet) and Uzo Ahn (concertmaster). Along with the opera, the orchestra will also perform the first movement of Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto with senior Graham Lane as the soloist. In the spring, principal cellist Brandon Wang will perform the first two movements of Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto. The orchestra is also looking forward to performing with the Glee Club, and with the Hathaway Brown Upper School in February.

Mr. Singer is very excited for this year, as the orchestra is full of potential. There are many young, eager players and some experienced upperclassmen who are stepping into musical leadership roles for the first time. The orchestra will be able to tackle a very challenging repertoire based on what Mr. Singer has seen so far. His main goal for the orchestra, as well as the Glee Club, is that everyone feels like they have given all of their effort to the group throughout the entire year and feels proud of their contributions to the ensemble. On top of that, he wants everyone to feel like they have improved in some area, whether it’s technique, tone quality, music reading, or something else. Mr. Singer’s goal is to do everything he can to help facilitate the development. As a final note, about 25% of the students at the Upper School sing or play in one of our music ensembles, and Mr. Singer hopes many students will come see their peers perform. Mr. Singer says, “Public performance is where we showcase all we’ve learned and celebrate our hard work, and getting to make music for our friends and family makes the whole process that much more worthwhile.”