Brauer Auditorium took to the high seas this week for the Orchestras Spring Concert. Audience members were delighted by works ranging from Irish sea shanties to music from Pirates of the Caribbean. Notable crowd favorites also included themes from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and highlights from The Greatest Showman.
Part I of the concert, conducted by Middle School Orchestra Teacher Nicole Kovaluk, featured our Intro to Violin musicians, who demonstrated their new skills, including a piece they developed. They used their instruments to accompany a spoken word theme on the sounds of spring. They were followed by the Intro to String Ensemble Cello Choir and Intro to String Ensemble. The Fiddle Club came next, offering an Irish Polka Fest and a sea shanty titled Grumpy Pirate. The Seventh Grade Festival Orchestra, Sixth and Seventh Grade Orchestra, and Third- through Seventh Grade Orchestra rounded out this first concert, with assistance from Eric Taylor, Middle School Dean and Music Teacher.
Musicians and audience members then gathered in the space outside of the auditorium for a small reception sponsored by the Arts Boosters.
At 7:30 p.m., Part II of the concert got underway under the guidance of Dr. Jo Nardolillo, JK-12 Arts Department Chair and Orchestra Director, starting with three works performed by the Upper School Orchestra. There are so many student musicians that the stage in Brauer Auditorium barely holds them all! Our talented Concert Orchestra continued the festive sea shanties from Part I and offered highlights from The Greatest Showman.
The Virtuosi, a conductorless ensemble that also works independently as a class, played Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings, which Dr. Nardolillo describes as “an apex work” for musicians. They also performed Libertango, which brought guest musician Paul Zahller, JK-12 Science Department Chair, from behind his drum set at the back of the stage to play a bongo drum front and center. Dr. Nardolillo explained that several faculty members frequently enjoy playing with our talented students.
Finally, the Black Pearl Festival Orchestra—made up of all the musicians in the house—took over the entire stage to perform more music from Pirates of the Caribbean. Students donned bandanas and eye patches, and their conductor bore a striking resemblance to Captain Jack himself.
After the applause finally receded, Dr. Nardolillo and Erin Hamill, Assistant Orchestra Director, announced notable accomplishments:
- Emmaus Tzeng ’28 took 2nd Place in the Young Artists Competition on piano.
- Ellie Chen ’26 won an audition to play with the All-State Orchestra, making her just one of 14 cellists in Missouri to enjoy this experience.
- Joy Chen ’26 earned an Outstanding rating in the regional Solo & Ensemble Festival.
- Saivi Gadi ’25 earned a Superior rating in the regional Solo & Ensemble Festival, qualifying for State, where she earned Bronze while accompanied by E. Chen on piano.
- Forest Gong ’27 earned a Superior rating in the regional Solo & Ensemble Festival, qualifying for State, where he earned Silver on clarinet.
They then moved on to awards:
“The Director’s Award for Orchestra honors the top leader of a high school orchestra, recognizing the young musician who consistently goes above and beyond in the service of the ensemble. We, the orchestra directors at MICDS, are very pleased to present the 2024 Director’s Award for Orchestra to Mikey Gutchewsky ’26!”
“We are pleased to present the Leonard Bernstein Musicianship Award. In his long career, Bernstein made an indelible mark on the musical world as a conductor, composer, and teacher. This award honors students whose musical contributions, dedication, and creativity set them apart as deserving of the highest recognition for their achievements. The 2024 Leonard Bernstein Musicianship Award goes to Saivi Gadi ’25!”
“The National School Orchestra Award is the highest honor we can bestow upon a member of the high school orchestra to recognize excellence in playing and contributions to the ensemble. The MICDS 2024 National Orchestra Award goes to Ellie Chen ’26!”
Finally, several musicians received the newly-created ATTACCA Award. The meaning of ATTACCA is “attack at once” and is used as a direction in music at the end of a movement to begin the next without pause. The orchestra faculty wanted to recognize those students who, after matriculating from the “required arts” grades at MICDS choose to continue with their musical education. They are charging ahead without pause, continuing to grow in their art.
Dr. Nardolillo was pleased with the evening. “It was a fantastic culmination to a stellar year for these students,” she said.
Bravo and brava to all our talented orchestra students! Thank you for a wonderful evening full of beautiful music!