The orchestra concert, occurring on Apr. 25th, was held in the Creative Arts and Design Center and marked the final concert of the 2013-2014 school year. As always, the last concert of the year is a memorable occasion, with a lot of pomp, circumstance and tradition. The evening was kicked off in spectacular fashion with a brass-heavy, tone piece by Gustav Holst called Mars (Part of the Planets series), which depicts the true grandeur of war in a terrifying and awe-inspiring piece of music. This was quickly followed by Dvorak’s Cello Concerto, which featured cellist sophomore Elena Ariza. The night was capped off by Rimsky-Korsokov’s Russian Easter, which was widely regarded as the best piece of the night. “It alternates between pensive and rhythmically exciting sections, making it my favorite piece,” junior Hanson Tam said.

This night wasn’t just a celebration of fine music; it was a celebration for the seniors as well. “ [We celebrated the] commitment and contributions of each graduating orchestra member,” Tam said. Trumpeter Kai Banks, trombonist Amanda MacFarland and violinist Ray Tung were all given a special send off by the orchestra teacher, Vicky Greenbaum. She said a few words about each graduating senior and wished them all the best in their college lives and beyond. Overall, the concert was a major success and helped thank the seniors for their great work.