On Jan. 30, the Symphonic Orchestra performed at the 87th Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA) annual conference held at the Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach, Mo.
The ensemble was one of just five groups statewide chosen to perform, continuing a tradition for the Symphonic Orchestra. Eligible to apply for a performance slot once every three years, the orchestra has secured a place at the conference without fail for the past 12 years.
Under the expertise of Orchestra Director Daniel Henderson, the orchestra performed “Serenade for Strings” by Tchaikovsky, “Adagio for Strings” by Samuel Barber and “Starburst” by contemporary composer Jessie Montgomery for an audience of music educators, students and professionals across the state.
Junior Katherine Nguyen, section leader for the violas and an All-State violist, shared her enjoyment of playing “Starburst.”
“My favorite piece was definitely Starburst by Jessie Montgomery! It’s modern and very energetic, so it was a fun challenge,” Ngyuen said.
For freshman Ellison Chheda, Barber’s “Adagio” stole the show. The piece’s slow, melancholy melody struck a chord with Chedda. However, Chheda acknowledged that even the most beautiful of pieces can start to grow stale after months of repetition.
“I think working on it for that long just got to be a lot,” Chheda said.
The ensemble began preparing for the performance in November, completing three playing tests and showcasing their progress in two concerts. Their preparation also included working with the Arianna String Quartet, along with Mark Laycock, an endowed professor of strings at Wichita State University.
Senior Sophia He, who has been in Symphonic since freshman year and attended MMEA that same year, made sure to highlight Henderson’s work.
“MMEA was an incredible experience because it was a grand realizing point of our achievements,” senior Sophia He said. “However, we couldn’t have done it without Mr. Henderson’s hard work and dedication.”
Nguyen shared the same sentiment, noting that Henderson’s high expectations ultimately led to rewarding results.
“The process [of preparing for MMEA] was definitely tough. Mr. Henderson kept pushing us so we could achieve the highest level of playing. While at the moment it was frustrating, I’m appreciative of our efforts!” Nguyen said. “Going to perform at a conference makes us students realize how important our orchestra work is. It makes me feel proud of what we’ve done and excited for the future.”
