(Courtesy/ Mrs. Wilson)
On April 29, senior posters, twinkling lights, a dazzling red carpet, and a bittersweet air characterized the Dining Hall as the Academy orchestra hosted its Annual Spring Senior Concert. The orchestra’s junior class brought to light the whimsical, movie-themed night and featured poignant speeches in an ode to the seniors in a cinematic-sounding program.
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s How Far I’ll Go from Disney’s Moana was the opener. From the bass section’s cadence to the melody of the violins, the performance sounded straight out of the film, and the song’s message about fulfilling one’s calling and pursuing adventure made it the perfect choice to start the seniors’ final concert.
The next piece,B. Accolay’s Violin Concerto No. 1 A Minor, featured an elaborate solo from senior and violin phenom Sophie W., whose nine-minute, memorized performance was nothing short of masterful, earning Sophie a standing ovation.
Following the concerto was Phil Collins’ You’ll Be in My Heart from Disney’s Tarzan. Once again, the orchestra brought the film’s hallmark song to life, with dynamic changes and instrumental balance to deliver an impactful tune whose message about enduring connections made it even more meaningful for the graduating seniors.
The fourth song, a wistful piece, was Edward Elgar’s String Serenade in E Minor, performed exclusively by the orchestra’s seniors, Victoria C., Nousha A., Zyhni Z., Bella L., Angela Z., Sophie W., Alison W., and Mason H. That it had been rehearsed by the seniors only a couple of times attests to their veteran expertise.
The concert’s final song was Soon Hee Newbold’s Warrior Legacy, featuring the eighth-grade ensemble, who contributed to the song’s movie-esque sound. The performance also served as an induction into the high school orchestra.
Besides the musical elements of the night, the concert was host to heartwarming “farewell” speeches for the seniors, which resulted in just as many chuckles as they did sobs.
Dr. Greenwood capped off the night with a series of awards, starting with fine arts letters for those who had exhibited above and beyond dedication to the program and their instrument. The sole individual award recipient of the night was Sophie W., winning the National School Orchestra Award for her musical excellence, diligence, and notable contributions to the CA orchestra program. Grateful for all the guidance Dr. Greenwood had provided in the past four years, the orchestra seniors followed the awards ceremony with gifts for him, including the class of 2026 decorated violin face, a tradition in the orchestra. The face was designed by Bella L. and Angela Z., and depicts an outer space scene with the senior class floating around and Dr. Greenwood as the moon. The violin face is currently on view outside of the orchestra room.
