Spring Orchestra Concert

This past Friday, the Lawrenceville Philharmonic and Collegium Orchestra performed the Spring Orchestra Concert in the Kirby Arts Center. The orchestra performed pieces from a variety of composers, including a medley of music from the James Bond movies, a string quartet composed by Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich and the international premier of “She Dances Toward the Light,” a piece composed by local teenager Adah Kaplan.

Preparing for the performance, violinist Arisa Okamura ’25 said that the orchestra worked “at a fast pace.” She noted that many of the pieces were challenging, particularly “String Quartet No. 8” and “She Dances Toward the Light,” but she enjoyed the process of learning and practicing them. Additionally, the cover conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra directed the rehearsal, with Okamura noting that her advice was “insightful and helpful for us all.”

Ellie Turchetta ’25, another violinist, said that “the [concert] was a very rewarding experience” since it was a “culmination of all the work [everyone] had done the whole year.” “Especially for the Collegium, it felt really great to have all our work pay off when we played the Shostakovich and the Smetana," she continued. Finally, she mentioned that she enjoyed being able to play pieces ranging from “pop medleys” to “classical masterpieces” with the other performers.

Violinist Juliette Vazquez ’24 felt “proud” as the performance “encompassed all of [the orchestra’s] hard work in rehearsals.” Vazquez was especially excited about their performance of the “Live and Let Die” theme from the orchestra’s James Bond piece. She thought “the audience really loved [the piece]” and hoped they were able to truly “immerse themselves” in the music. Vazquez also highlighted the camaraderie of the orchestra, noting that she enjoys being able to “collaborate with [her] peers.” Amelie Deng ’24, another violinist, was grateful to be surrounded by students who were “willing to help everyone out,” which made them more confident in their performance.

Similarly, Helen Chang ’26 emphasized the dedication of all the players: “Everyone put in effort, each playing their part to bring together the piece,” she said. Chang also had a “great experience” working with students from different grade levels.

Overall, the concert was successful in both showcasing the hard work of the orchestra and helping the players form deeper relationships with their peers.