The orchestra students at Pattonville High School have been preparing for their first “orchestra-only” concert of the school year, which is officially labeled as the Pre-Festival Concert. The concert was originally set to be on Thursday, Feb. 21, but due to hazardous weather conditions, was postponed. At this event, all of the PHS orchestra groups (String, Concert, and Chamber) perform separate pieces, and notably the two more advanced groups, Concert and Chamber orchestras, give a preview of what they are to play at the MSHSAA Large Ensemble Festival in March. Orchestra teacher, Daniel Henderson, will head them.
The Large Ensemble Festival is “to be held at Lindbergh High School on March 12,” according to current orchestra student teacher Mr. Sin. Concert Orchestra is performing two pieces: Carpe Diem, composed by Richard Meyer, and Folk Tune and Fiddle Dance: Suite for Strings, composed by Percy E. Fletcher. Chamber Orchestra is performing Capriol: Suite for String Orchestra composed by Peter Warlock, and Short Overture for Strings, composed by Jean Berger. Both orchestras will be on a numbered grading system from the judges, with a 1 being the highest grade possible.
“Both pieces from Chamber are relatively brief,” says Sin. “They’re not much longer than 10 minutes.”
Sophomore Maggie Vitale is currently in Concert Orchestra and went to the same festival last year, which was also held at Lindbergh.
“It was a great time last year. I got to hang out with some friends and play music,” Vitale said. However, she doesn’t feel the same amount of enthusiasm for this year’s festival as much as she did previously.
“I’m not anticipating it as much as I did last year, because I liked last year’s music better, and we were more prepared. I am however, looking forward to our annual trip, which is in Nashville this year.”
Senior Eric Baetman, who is in Chamber Orchestra, gave more of an optimistic response toward preforming at festival.
“Last year’s results were really good; we got a 1. I’m going this year, and I guess we’re prepared.”
While it is unclear at the moment the date that the concert is now scheduled, all of the orchestra students have had plenty of extra time to practice in preparation.
