Sounds of Spring: Annual Spring Music Concert Returns

Kaiya Goud ’30, a vocalist in Descants, welcomed everyone to the annual Spring Music Concert and introduced the Lower School Orchestra. Performing the Adagio and Allegro movements from Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto Grosso for two violins and cello, RV 578, the performance featured soloists Sophie Wang ’30 and Grace Wu ’29 on violins and Claire Ban ’31 on cello. “The composer Vivaldi taught at a girls’ school in Venice in the 1700s, and this piece was written for students who were about our age,” shared Kaiya. Every year, Lower School students are invited to audition for the Lower School Orchestra as an option for the Performing Arts Block (PAB). This course is intended for students of all instruments at an intermediate to advanced playing level.

Open to students in the Upper School, Master Class is another audition-based performance course for advanced classical musicians. Students spend class time practicing individual solo music, honing their performance and audition skills, deepening their ability to interpret music from different time periods, and developing strategies for more effective practice. They also learn to give and receive feedback in a performance setting as well as study composers and relevant music theory. Master Class cello student Ella Luo ’27 and Head of Performing Arts Felicia Brady-Lopez on piano performed the second movement of Dmitri Shostakovich’s Cello Sonata in D minor and Master Class piano student Eunha Basu ’28 performed Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Etude-Tableaux Opus 29, no.1.

Students in Lower School can choose from a variety of electives in voice, dance, and music for PAB. Students spend the semester developing their craft, culminating in a performance for the community. While last week’s Spring Dance Concert featured dancers, this week’s performance featured choral groups and the orchestra.

Chorus I and II is one such PAB elective. Directed by Performing Arts adjunct teacher Ms. Yen, the choral group sang “Climb Higher” by Pinkzebra and featured soloists Uma Desai ’32, Olivia Gracia ’31, Laena Humphrey ’31, VV Oldham ’32, and Eden Tierney ’31. “The optimistic vibe of the lyric and the upbeat rhythm will make you feel stronger, go longer, and climb higher,” said Kaia. 

Another PAB elective, Descants, directed by Choral Director Andrew Marshall sang “Will there really be a morning?” by Craig Hella Johnson. “This piece reflects on Emily Dickenson’s poem of the same name, inquiring about the reality of this daily occurrence,” explained emcee Nia Lawrence ’26.

Upper School students may also audition for Illumina, Winsor’s Upper School choral group. Singing “Halo”—made popular by pop singer Beyoncé—Illumina’s unaccompanied rendition had a groovy feel coupled with occasional beatboxing. Illumina’s second piece, “Waters Ripple and Flow” was composed by Ruth Elain Schram. “Originally a Czech folk song, it relates the lost love of a couple to a flowing river, taking away all that lies in it,” explained Nia. Illumina’s final piece was “Malala, Pakistani Girl,” written by Larry Nickel. “This piece highlights the brave actions of Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani female education activist who was horrifically attacked by the Taliban in her country for standing up for the rights of women to be educated. She was the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureate,” added Nia.

To close out the program, Senior Small performed for the very last time at the all-school assembly. Made up entirely of soon-to-be graduating seniors, the students sang the popular Lady A song “Need You Now” by D. Haywood, C. Kelly, J. Kear, H. Scott, arranged by Mr. Marshall. At the conclusion of the performance, members of Illumina gifted a single pink Gerber daisy to each senior performer as the audience gave a standing ovation. 

Thanks to Theater Tech Director Andres Puigbo, Theater Tech Assistant Anna Vogler, students in Theater Design, and the music faculty who made the moving morning of music possible!