On December 17, the JP Stevens Orchestra graced the audience members in the auditorium with a variety of emotional and festive songs to kick off the holiday season. The concert featured all of the orchestra classes, as well as a few ensembles.
It started off with a delicate piece named “Believe” by G. Ballard and A Silvestri, and arranged by Michael Story, which was played by the Concert Orchestra, which featured a student pianist, Amula Patnam. The song was also featured in the 1983 film A Christmas Story. Afterwards was “A Japanese Christmas”. Arranged by Ketho Yamada, the song featured familiar melodies from both Japan and the Western world’s traditional Christmas jingles, blending in together nicely to make a unique sound. The Concert Orchestra’s third and final song was none other than “Frosty the Snowman” by Nelson and Rollins, which received many cheers from the audience when it was announced. The drum beat, played by Mandar Padole, greatly contributed to the song’s upbeat and lively nature.
Next, a small, six-membered ensemble called “Heal4Music” arrived on stage. They are a student group from JPS who go on to perform gigs in places such as hospitals and nursing homes since music is known to heal the soul. They began with a playful rendition of “Let it Snow” by S. Cahn, which showcased their skills as the song displayed various bowing techniques. Afterwards, they performed a jazzy cover of “Santa Tell Me” by Ariana Grande.
Then, the Freshman Orchestra performed “St. Anthony’s Chorale”, arranged by Sandra Dackow: a calm, traditional song which accurately reflected the heartfelt, and emotional feeling of the season. Their second song was a playful one called “Two Scottish Farewells”, which also showcased various rhythmic techniques. Finally, they performed “Autumn Waltz” by Yukiko Nishimura, since it was still fall. It was a soft and delicate ballad which aided in the perfect contrast between the song that was going to be played after.
The Camerata Orchestra then played a dramatic and slightly dark yet festive piece called “Pavane” from the Capriol Suite No. 2 while standing. The song had several crescendoes, adding to the emotion that was conveyed throughout. The group then played “Mattachins”, which is the sixth piece in the Capriol Suite. It was still dramatic, but the mood had shifted from being pensive from the previous song, to being triumphant and energetic. Afterwards, they played “Tidings of Comfort and Joy”, an emotional holiday classic with a fun twist at the end where the beat and melody changed.
Mayra Ahuja, a bassist from the Camerata Orchestra said, “It was very motivational to see the effort everyone put into setting up this beautiful performance, and to see all of my companions and see them improve as the year goes on. I am really excited to do more performances soon!”
After Camerata’s performance, the Chamber Orchestra played a sweet tango, which was “Por Una Cabeza” by Carlos Gardel. It utilized many slurs and crescendoes giving it a distinctive feel, but without compromising its classical nature. Before going into their next piece, a moment was taken to congratulate all Orchestra members that had recently gotten into the regional orchestra. Their second song, “Flying” by Matt Riley, also featured a student pianist, Prithvi Manoj, and had a lovely moment where the melody was taken by both the piano, as well as the cello. Each string section had the chance to play the melody part, and near the end, there was a beautiful violin solo played by Leilani Gopal. Their last song was “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” by R. Blane, and arranged by Calvin Custer.
Finally, the Camerata and Chamber Orchestra groups joined with select members of the band to form the Symphony Orchestra to play the final song of the night: “Phantom of the Opera (Selections)” by A.L. Weber, and also arranged by Calvin Custer. It was a grand and upbeat performance; the perfect finale for the night.
When asked about his thoughts on the concert, Mr. Lee said, “I was very proud of all of the hard work we accomplished. Everyone worked really hard, and it sounded really good.” The sentiment accurately reflected the night.
Overall, the JP Stevens Orchestra concert was a testament to the dedication, skill, and hard work of the students and staff involved. Each performance displayed a range of emotions and technical talent which captivated the audience throughout the night. As the final notes faded, the audience were left with a feeling of inspiration and anticipation for what the next concert might bring.
